Kamado Joe iKamand II Smart BBQ Temperature Controller For Classic 18-Inch Grills - KJ-IKAMANDNA

Product and app were cool for 3 days but one day they just discontinued the app out of nowhere and made this product obsolete.

As of 7/4/23, it appears that the app (required to use almost all functionality of this device) has been pulled from the Apple App Store. Additionally, the server for the app data (if you actually had the app prior to it getting pulled) is no longer operating. DO NOT BUY THIS DEVICE, it is a brick until KJ fixes this issue, and from what I'm reading, they might not fix it at all.

I really wanted to like this product. I have to completely set it up as a new device every time I use it. This was frustrating but I just put up with it because I like using it (when it works). I've used it 5 times total. Now the temp probe stopped working, you can't buy new probes because they're sold out everywhere. So now it's completely broken. Kamado Joe team, please put some resources on this product line and fix the issues.

One of the nicely looking temp/blower units out there. Love how it's all one thing. Great product design. The one (yes, one) cook I've been able to get all the way through successfully in a year of ownership and THREE units I've gone through was a great experience. But man, each unit did something different. The first just stopped connecting to wifi at all after my first cook. Bought a dedicated 2.4 router for it (why? It's 2022), did direct connections in a full router DMZ with zero network interference. I know my way around a router. It is not my internet. The next would just keep the fan on forever after about 20 minutes. Had to unplug and restart the cook every 20 minutes or so. I've never had an IoT device be so finicky with internet connections. Ever. The final unit, and final straw for iKamand, was a thanksgiving cook that went on "blue light mode" (and showed a connection in my router stats) but did none of the "will go off it's last known settings" even though the app said it had lost connection. I even tried to turn it to Wi-Fi Direct mode and that failed after about an hour. I don't know what cost cutting corners Kamado Joe went through on this device, or what servers Decora is running in someone's basement instead of renting dynamic demand servers somewhere like every other IoT company out there, but I've had enough. I shouldn't have to cross my fingers, do a special dance, and troubleshoot my entire network connection every time I want to cook something. Maybe the new ownership of Kamado Joe will result in a reliable product.

1 user found this review helpful

Easy way to control temperature better hen I expected

I really want this to work, but it won't. I am in IT, so I know hot to use technology, however I cannot get the APP to work. The iKamand Wi-Fi is incredibly weak and will not stay connected.

I bought this device about 2 years ago and I have yet to have it work properly. I have tried firmware up dates. My grill is located within 10 feet of the rear wall of the house. It will not connect to the WIFI signal. I have even changed my ISP. The provider supplied me with a signal booster and even separated the 5G and 2.4 signals. It still does not connect. I have a THERMOWORKS device that has no problem connecting to the WIFI and bluetooth signal with no problem. I am giving up on this pice of JUNK. I will invest in a THERMOWORKS BILLOWS DEVICE that I am sure will work just fine.

Could not get it to work. After troubleshooting and messing with it for a while, I returned it to the store. All of the 1 star reviews should have persuaded me to stay away but I thought I could make it work...

Hooked up and configured wifi and app no problems. Unit worked for about an hour on first cook. Had I not checked and seen the pit temperature was 50+ degrees below set point would not have known that the unit had stopped working. App/unit should have a periodic 'heartbeat' check with an alert while in operation to verify that it is working correctly and/or has not lost power.

Ive been an avid KJ user for years and this device has taken cooking in a KJ to the next level. Easy set up, great app and spot on temp control. Just when you thought a KJ couldn't get any better, they have raised the game. Definitely recommend!