The Story Behind Our New Wireless Food Probe

Read the transcript below:

Ted Conrad (CEO of FireBoard):

I think our goal with FireBoard all along has been to use technology to solve simple problems. This product will literally let anybody who’s new to barbecuing—or temperature monitoring in general—jump right in and use the Pulse. We were talking about it and asked ourselves, “What could we do that was unique and different?”

Paul Skelton (Director of Product Design & Development at FireBoard):

Wireless probes are nothing new in the market. Even before I joined FireBoard, customers were asking us to make one. They love our products, our ecosystem, and our cloud infrastructure. We developed a low-frequency technology a few years ago called FireBoard Beacon, a low-frequency cold storage monitor.

Ted Conrad:

Once we realized we could build a wireless probe using that same technology, all of a sudden the issues with Bluetooth connectivity could be solved using this low-frequency approach. We had to design our own antenna and the components to tune that antenna. We also had to handle all the certifications ourselves.

Because of the way the Pulse is designed—with its ceramic case—it was challenging to figure out how to place an antenna inside. And then we realized we needed not just one antenna, but two: one for low frequency and one for Bluetooth. So we built a system with two separate antennas to transmit both signals. We also had to isolate them so they didn’t interfere with each other.

Paul Skelton:

To do that, we separated the antennas as they came out of the tube. It naturally turned into this circular shape, which offers good usability—it’s easier to grab and insert—and it also just happens to look like part of our logo.

Ted Conrad:

We wanted to make something unique, but also something we could manufacture here in Kansas City. We’re passionate about U.S. manufacturing and even do some pretty intricate electronics right here. When you design a product for manufacturing, you have to consider what you can realistically produce yourself. We’re staying true to the FireBoard brand, with its unique styling and the capabilities we have in Kansas City. I think you can see that it’s a really interesting product—and we want to stand out.

Paul Skelton:

The development process never ends. We’re always looking for ways to improve our products, whether it’s making them easier to assemble, more rugged, or improving signal performance. Even though we’re in production, we’re still refining the product.

Ted Conrad:

A big part of FireBoard’s success has been our cloud infrastructure and mobile apps, which make the hardware extremely easy to use. You take it out of the box, it connects, and you don’t have to do a bunch of network configuration. You can turn it on, head to the store, go back to the office, and still check your phone. People trust that our stuff just works.

Paul Skelton:

The thing that really excited me during testing was when I went out on my normal route for range testing—about a quarter mile away—and I started picking up Pulses I wasn’t even testing. They were sitting on my office desk inside the building. That told me we’re achieving excellent performance.

Ted Conrad:

For me, the potential is in making our production efficient enough to build an amazing product right here in Kansas City—something not many companies do. The challenge is to make sure every single unit is top quality while also figuring out how to scale efficiently with our local resources.

We’ve already done a lot, and it’s exciting. I’m looking forward to making our manufacturing process even more efficient as we grow. That’s been a big part of FireBoard: keeping our manufacturing here and making sure we remain efficient.