Feature Comparison With The Stoker

Although this is a product review of the CyberQ II and thus should be its place to shine, one of the most frequently asked question we get regarding temperature controllers is "Should I buy a Stoker or a BBQ Guru?" This question now becomes a bit more difficult since the CyberQ II now can control 2 cookers and connect to a PC. Needless to say, we can't answer the question for you, but we can provide a side by side comparison of all the features we could think of between these two excellent controllers:

	The Stoker	BBQ Guru CyberQ II
Temperature
Pit Temperature Range	100 - 450 F	32 - 475 F
Food Temperature Range	100 - 450 F	32 - 210 F
Temperature Units	F or C	F or C
Power
Power supply	5 volt mini brick	12 volt brick
Cigarette lighter	Yes, w/ $35 12-volt adapter	Yes, w/ $12 plug
Display
Display Type	2x12 LCD Display	2x8 LCD Display
Display Backlight	Yes, via dedicated button	Yes, on every button press
Display Backlight Time Option	No	Yes
Display Backlight Intensity Option	No	Yes
Display Contrast Option	No	Yes
Scrolling Temperature Display	Yes	No, all temperatures displayed at once
Keypad
Keypad	5 button keypad	4 rubber buttons
Data Input Method	Keypad and 2x12 display	Keypad and 2x8 display
Blower
Blower capacity (note 2)	5, 10, and 25 CFM	4, 10 and 25 CFM
Blower assignment	Each blower has a chip containing an ID	Blower assigned based on which outlet is used
Damper	Fully open when blowing, fully closed when not	Manual, infinitely adjustable
Adapters	Available for many popular cookers	Available for many popular cookers
Adapter connection	Bolted to blower. Fan must be removed after cook.	Blower presses into tube on adapter. Blower can be removed, adapter can be left attached to cooker and closed with provided kill plug.
System unit/blower connection	No	Yes, system unit can be attached to hook on blower.
Blower on indication	Yes, on display	Yes, on display
Alarm
Audible alarm	Yes	Yes
Configurable High/Low Alarms	Yes, for food and pit probes	Yes, for pit probe. "Food done" alarm only for food probe.
Alarm disable	Yes, you must disable each alarm individually through the menu	Yes, Good Neighbor Feature disables all alarms
Audible blower alarm	No	No
Configurable alarm volume	No	No
Configurable alarm beeping	No	Yes
Temperature Probes
Temperature Probes	Stainless steel probes, teflon coated wires	Stainless steel probes, braided steel covered wires
Cable length	4 feet, extendable with extension cords	6, 8, 10 feet available
Cable maximum temperature	450 degrees	700 degrees
Number of temperature probes	In theory, unlimited (note 6)	4
Probes separate	Yes, pit and food are separate plugs	Yes, pit and food are separate plugs
Probe accuracy (note 4)	< 4 degrees	< 1.5 degrees
Probe Assignment	Each probe has a chip containing its ID	Probes assigned based on the outlet used
User calibration	No	Yes
High temperature probe	Yes, to 1000 degrees, stainless steel cable	No
Pit Temperature Accuracy
Pit Temp Accuracy Low (note 5)	+ < 1 degree	0 degrees
Pit Temp Accuracy Med	+ < 1 degree	- 0.5 degrees
Pit Temp Accuracy High	+ < 2 degrees	- 1 degrees
Pit Temp Swing Low (note 5)	± 1 degree	± 1 degree
Pit Temp Swing Med	± 2 degrees	± 1.5 degrees
Pit Temp Swing High	± 4 degrees	± 1 degree
Clock/Timer
Clock	Yes, set manually or automatically if connected to Internet	No
Countdown Timer	No	Yes
User-selectable timer action	No	Yes: alarm, shutdown, hold or no action
Other Features
Power interruption recovery	Yes	Yes
Ramp Mode	No	Yes
Low temperature smoking	Yes, will control down to 100 degrees.	Yes, will control down to 32 degrees.
Open Lid Detection	No (note 9)	Yes
Adaptive Control	No	Yes
User-defined control parameters	No	Yes (note 8)
Battery Power Indicator	No	Yes
Stand	Yes	Yes
Available in colors	No	Yes
Engraving available	No	No
Multiple Cookers
Multiple cooker operation	Yes	Yes
Cookers supported	In theory, unlimited (note 6)	2
Computer Connection
Computer connection	Yes, ethernet	Yes, USB
Control via software	Yes, with 3rd party free application	Yes, with provided software
Wireless control (note 3)	Yes	Yes
PC Control Software	No (note 7)	Included
Web server in unit	Yes	No
Send text/email messages	No	Yes
User Upgradeable Software	Yes	Yes
Prices
1-Cooker System Price (note 1)	$265	$338
2-Cooker System Price (note 1)	$413	$463
Dimensions
Dimensions	4.0" x 5.25" x 2.0s"	2.75" x 5.125" x 0.75"
Weight	20.0 oz	9.5 oz
Miscellaneous
Our Review	The Stoker Review	You are reading it!
Manufacturer Website	www.rocksbarbque.com	www.thebbqguru.com

Notes: The prices we have listed is as of May, 2009 and based upon what we consider to be a "standard" system. In the case of The CyberQII, this includes BGE large door adapters, 6-foot food and pit probes, and 4 CFM blowers. For The Stoker, this includes 5 CFM blowers, food and pit sensors, BGE large flat adapters and a 3-port expander for the two-cooker system. 4/5 and 10 CFM blowers are adequate for ceramic cookers, 25 CFM available for larger metal cookers. To have wireless control of the Stoker, you must purchase some sort of network bridge or wireless gaming adapter. This then has to be configured into your existing wireless network. (There may be other options for accomplishing this, but these are the two we have seen mentioned.) Wireless control of the CyberQII is possible with a wireless USB hub, PC Anywhere or USB Over LAN software. Temperature probe accuracy was measured by placing multiple probes in boiling water. Value indicated is the difference between the lowest-reading probe we tested and the highest-reading probe. Pit temperature swing was determined by observing the low and high temperatures recorded as the device controlled the temperature of the pit, once stability had been reached. The pit temperature accuracy value is the difference between the target temperature set on the device and the average of the high and low temperatures recorded once stability was reached. These readings were done three times (Low, Medium, High) at the low, middle, and high ends of the devices control temperature range. The Stoker system unit allows direct connection of up to 5 temperature probes and/or blowers. More devices can be attached with optional 3-port expanders ($23 each) and 20-port expanders ($110 each). The CyberQ II comes with PC software to control the unit via USB. Similar third-party software for the Stoker system can be found at The Virtual Weber Bullet in their Temperature Control forum. The CyberQ II has a "Super User" menu where the user can adjust control algorithm parameters called "Proportional Band", "Ramp Offset" and "Cycle Time". See the CyberQII user manual for more information about these parameters. The Stoker does not have an Open Lid Detect feature. However, you can navigate through the menus to an item called "Blower Pause". This manual action will keep the blower from running for 5 minutes while you open the lid of your cooker. After 5 minutes, the Stoker will resume control of the cooker.