Two probes, two very different bets on how "wireless" should work
The FireBoard Pulse and The MeatStick solve the same problem — a cable running from a probe in your meat, across the grill, to a display on the bench — but they bet on different ways to get rid of it. FireBoard put two sensors in one stainless probe and built for range through metal. MeatStick made the probe itself fully wireless and untethered, then sells you range as an add-on when you need it.
FireBoard Pulse: one probe, two temperatures at once
The Pulse reads meat and ambient grill temperature from a single probe — a sensor near the tip for the meat, a second in the ceramic handle for the air around it. The tip is rated to 100°C, the handle up to 350°C continuous, and it's IP67 rated, so rain and a proper wash won't bother it.
Out of the box it pairs to your phone over Bluetooth, which is genuinely fine for a kettle or a straightforward smoker. Where it's built to go further is inside a sealed kamado or an offset smoker's steel firebox — connect it to a FireBoard 2 or Spark controller with the S1G accessory antenna, and it switches to a lower-frequency signal that punches through metal and ceramic far better than Bluetooth alone. Worth knowing before you buy: we stock the Pulse probe itself, not the FireBoard 2 or Spark controller it needs for that long-range mode — out of the box, it's a Bluetooth-only probe.
The MeatStick: fully wireless, range sold separately
The standard MeatStick Set is a genuinely cable-free probe with its own onboard battery, charged from a dock rather than swapped like AAA cells. Standard range is 33 feet over Bluetooth — fine for a kettle on the patio, tighter if your smoker sits at the far end of the yard. The X Set pairs the same probe with an Xtender charging base that relays the signal, stretching that to 260 feet. The separate WiFi Bridge goes further again, putting your cook on the internet so you can check it from anywhere with signal, not just within range of the base.
Running more than one cut at once — say a brisket and a rack of ribs at different points in their cook — is where MeatStick's per-probe design pays off. Buy additional probes and monitor several pieces of meat independently, each with its own reading.
The problem neither one fully escapes
Bluetooth struggles to pass through heavy steel lids and ceramic domes — that's true of every Bluetooth probe on the market, not a flaw specific to either of these. FireBoard's answer is the S1G long-range accessory system, which needs extra hardware we don't currently stock. MeatStick's answer is the Xtender base and WiFi Bridge, both sold as direct upgrades to the set itself. If your smoker is enclosed metal or thick ceramic and you plan on standing more than a few metres away, budget for whichever brand's range fix before you decide, not after.
Side by side
| FireBoard Pulse | The MeatStick | |
|---|---|---|
| Sensors per probe | 2 — meat + ambient, one probe | 1 per probe, buy more to run more cuts |
| Standard range | Bluetooth (long-range needs FireBoard 2/Spark + antenna) | 33 ft standard, 260 ft with X Set |
| Waterproof rating | IP67 | IPX9K (submersible) |
| Price from | $249 | $129 |
Frequently asked questions
Which one has better range out of the box?
The MeatStick — 33 feet on Bluetooth alone, no extra hardware needed. The Pulse's long-range mode needs a FireBoard 2 or Spark controller with an S1G antenna, which isn't included with the probe itself.
Can I monitor two different cuts of meat at once?
With MeatStick, yes — each probe is independent, so buying a second or third probe lets you track multiple cuts separately. The Pulse is one probe reading one piece of meat plus ambient temperature.
Will either one work through a sealed kamado lid?
Both use Bluetooth by default, which loses signal strength through heavy ceramic or steel. MeatStick's fix is the Xtender base or WiFi Bridge; FireBoard's is the S1G long-range accessory system on a FireBoard 2 or Spark.
Is the MeatStick actually submersible?
Yes — it carries an IPX9K rating, which covers high-pressure washing and brief submersion. The Pulse is IP67, rated for rain and washing but not designed to be dunked.
Do I need a subscription or extra app purchase for either?
No — both use a free companion app. FireBoard's cloud-monitoring features (checking a cook from anywhere) need a FireBoard 2 or Spark relaying the signal over your WiFi; MeatStick's equivalent is the separate WiFi Bridge.
Which is the better buy for a first wireless thermometer?
If you're on an open kettle or a straightforward smoker and want the lower price, the standard MeatStick Set covers it. If you specifically want meat and ambient temperature from a single probe, the Pulse is built for exactly that.