In the world of barbecue temperature controllers and digital meat thermometers BBQ Guru’s DigiQ DX3 is a beast! In fact, it pairs really well with all of our smoker drum models making them an essential weapons combo you need to have in your arsenal. But, smoker barrels aren’t the only type of cookers it works well with. The DX3 was designed to pair well with various different types of barbecue smokers and grills.

Do you like brisket, but hate the time it takes to cook? Wanna get some sleep next time around while it’s going through its motions? You can easily do that with the DigiQ DX3 or any of BBQ Guru’s other automatic temp controllers. The DX3 runs on autopilot managing your cook for the entire duration while you just chill back and relax. Nice looking, easy to program, reliable, durable, holds temps steady for the duration you need, and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

We’ve used the DigiQ temp controller on a variety of different meat cooks such as chicken, pork, and beef. Pork butts and briskets normally take the longest to cook. With the Digi Q being so easy to setup and use, it allows you to essentially leave your cooks largely unattended for the majority of the duration. Tending to other things like running errands, cleaning up the yard, and yup you guessed it………sleep are no longer impossible while your meat just smokes on!

Guess what? The DigiQ removes the agony from what many consider to be a grueling task. Yep, you read that right! No more babysitting!! Now you can breeze through a long cook and not worry about wild temperature swings if you take your attention of it for too long. This means you can step away “confidently”, and attend to other things not limited to, but including a nap!

If you’re an avid barbecue enthusiast who loves outdoor cooking & smoking, and are looking to kick long agonizing meat cooks to the curb you’re going to love this one!

The answer is no, not at all. Even though there’s a version to fit many cookers available on the market today it’s not necessary to use with any of them. In fact, when it comes to BBQ barrels in particular some will say it kind of defeats the purpose. So, why even get one then, right? Stay with me, this will all come together nicely. Even with a vertical smoker, as efficient as they are, you may experience temperature fluctuations 10°-20° +/- sometimes. And, that could be for all different reasons. It’s not unheard of. The main purpose of a digital fan controller is to automatically regulate cook temperature, keeping it as steady as possible for you.

The environment it creates inside a cook chamber or “smoke box” of any type of cooker is phenomenal, making it one of the best digital meat thermometers on the market. It continuously delivers just the right amount of air flow, essentially turning your smoker into an oven. This gives your meat the ability to cook as evenly as possible. And, that is of the utmost importance when it comes to low and slow BBQ and smoking. Dried out or over-done meat is the last thing you want.

Make no mistake, temps can easily be regulated on a UDS without a digital meat thermo and temp control device, for sure. You just have to be more on hand to “course correct” when temps fluctuate a little bit that’s all. If you’ve never done a brisket before, that could prove to be a rough task if it takes 12 to 14 hours to finish. The DigiQ helps to mostly eliminate the need for babysitting long, and extra long cooks. Imagine going to bed for 8 hours while your brisket just cruises all night long!

We were in a pinch one time missing some ingredients for the sides we wanted to make for our pork spareribs and baby back’s. So, we figured we’d put the DigiQ to the test to see if we could “trust” it to manage the custom temps we set while we went and made a store run. We left it in charge completely. Once we returned after about an hour, we noticed it was still holding the temperature we set solidly. It did not waiver one bit. We also confirmed this was true by the synced readings on our quality analog dial thermometers built-in to each and every one of our drums.

So, what was the final result once finished, you ask? Absolutely spot on fantastic! Passed the bend test, probe tender, and no dried out or overcooked meat whatsoever. The ribs were so moist, juicy, perfectly cooked, and not to mention, flavorful. Not fall off the bone tender, but a perfect bite through with just the right amount of tug.

This was all due to the steady “oven-like” temperatures of the cooking environment the DigiQ made for. Of course, there is always plenty of potential for fall off the bone ribs too if you like them that way. Probably would be the best fall-off-the-bone ribs you’ll ever have to be honest. The DigiQ will definitely help with that!

Full untrimmed slabs of spare ribs smoked hot & fast for around 2 hours.

Wrapped in foil for around 1 hour.

Easily sliced, super moist & tender no glaze ribs.

So juicy & delicious!  Infused with extra flavor from all the drippings that fell on coals during the cook (a fortunate side effect of cooking in a drum).

Baby back ribs smoked hot & fast for just under 2 hours, wrapped for about an hour.

Nice hickory & maple smoke penetration.

Dredged them in their delicious juice from the foil wrap.  Like mouthwatering candy!

The perfect bite through with just the right amount of tug.

*Competition pitmasters have known for years that the way to achieve moist, tender, quality pro-level championship barbecue is by maintaining even, steady, oven-like temperatures during a cook. Babysitting brisket goes out the door, meaning you won’t have to be on hot standby mode tending to your fire all night long into the early morning hours!

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If you’re tired of temperature fluctuations you constantly have to be on standby mode to correct, then the DX3 will make things much easier for you…….and help you produce a higher caliber of que in the process. Try it out for yourself and experience the tender juicy goodness it will turn your meats into. Pair it with one of our drum designs, and your BBQ will become unbeatable!

*Even if you already have another type of cooker and still want one of these must have grilling accessories, they make them to fit all different types of outdoor BBQ grilling and smoking devices. Buy one today! You will never look back!

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Choose Between The DigiQ Or The DigiQ Bundle

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*Free domestic US 2-Day shipping on complete controller kits which include a fan and adaptor.

The DigiQ Bundle.  This is the one we use on our drums. The whole package includes one Pit Probe, one Food Probe, Pit Viper Fan, 3/4″ Ball Valve Adapter, Magnetic Control Mount, and 12V-3.5 AMP Power Pack Supply.

$246.50 + FREE SHIPPING

• Included ball valve adapter (recommended) fits perfectly inside our drums air intake ports. *IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION: The “extended elbow adapter” shown in the picture above is a custom piece not included with the DigiQ bundle offer. It is a separate accessory. The included ball valve adapter is necessary for mounting horizontally to some of our drum’s “stubby air intake ports” as seen in image above. Also, for extending deeper into the upright style of air intakes if you don’t use an additional customized adapter, as shown in image above.
• Full-time adaptive control algorithm learns how your pit behaves for better stability and accuracy.
• High-intensity LED display that is visible in bright sunlight.
• Runs on 100-240V AC power.
• Probes – Dishwasher-safe means cleanup is a cinch – Included – (1) 4ft or 6ft food probe and (1) 4ft or 6ft pit probe.  8ft available, but extra.
• Controls the reliable Pit Viper 10 CFM fan.
• Controls temperatures ranging from 32˚F-475˚F range with +/- 2˚F accuracy.
• Aluminum control box is rugged and rust-free.
• Because of its precision, your charcoal burns more efficiently, lasts longer, and saves you money.
• Available in Black or Green.

The DigiQ Controller comes with one Pit Probe, one Food Probe, Magnetic Control Mount, and 12V-3.5 AMP Power Pack Supply.  (Fan & 3/4″ Ball Valve Adapter sold separately.)

• Full-time adaptive control algorithm learns how your pit behaves for better stability and accuracy.
• High-intensity LED display that is visible in bright sunlight
• Runs on 100-240V AC power
• Probes – Dishwasher-safe means cleanup is a cinch – Included – (1) 4ft or 6ft food probe and (1) 4ft or 6ft pit probe.  8ft available, but extra.
• Can control up to two powerful Pit Bull 25 CFM fans (for bigger cookers)
• Controls temperatures ranging from 32˚F-475˚F range with +/- 2˚F accuracy
• Aluminum control box is rugged and rust-free
• Because of its precision, your charcoal burns more efficiently, lasts longer, and saves you money.
• Available in Black or Green