Governmental regulations require we document the presence or absence of temperature excursions for our medical research areas. We have min/max thermometers. However, they do not give real time data to prevent temperature excursions before they happen. Using the tempstick, we can set the temperature alert value at a level that might suggest a trend towards an excursion, allowing us time to correct the problem before it happens.

PROS: A lot of thought clearly went into crafting this product, and its website interface. It does so many things right that I am surprised it has virtually no competition (as far as I can tell, and as of the time of this writing). This device also works via a PC, and does not require a smartphone or smartphone app. I set it up from my laptop. Tip: Once on the tempstick website website, if you are in full screen mode, the all important menus will be on the left, otherwise, the menu will be at the top of the screen. Once set up, the tempstick website allows the user to review the temperature and humidity logs online. Finally, when I had questions, I received responses to email questions in less than 24 hours.

CONS: While true the installation, login, and setup process is easy, it was easy for me only once I spent some time learning how to do it. I was initially not able to set up the device because my laptop was plugged into our network. Even though I chose the tempstick wireless connection, it would not connect until I physically unplugged the wired ethernet cable from my laptop. The menu is not arranged in the order best to set up the device. It is best to first setup the Accounts and Contacts, followed by Sensors. My recommendation is to set up the Alerts last. Having the Contacts already entered will allow you to select Contacts in the Alert setup. The alert message includes the temp you set. But in addition, it also automatically sends a message of a temperature 10 degrees higher than what you set. I don't know why. Once the device begins to read temperatures, you cannot delete log data. This is potentially problematic in a regulatory setting. Because if you set up your device in a non-storage area, with initial temperatures not within the desired range, then the logs will forever show a potential temperature excursion at the time of the setup. While likely less convenient, I recommend you set up the device in the storage area where the device is to be used. Also, this device is powered by a battery. This makes sense if you do not have a backup battery. However, if your storage area has a backup battery, then it would be nice to have a plug-in version. The challenge with the battery is that the device gives no warning when the battery is low. The manufacturer suggests you routinely go to the website (dashboard or sensors page), where you will find the battery charge level. But if the idea is to have a device that will alert you by text and/or email about important temperature excursions, then it would be preferable to also be warned when the battery is low, rather than having to monitor the battery status by routinely going to the website.

OVERALL: Overall, the Temp Stick Wireless Temperature Sensor 24/7 Monitoring device is amazing technology. While very good already, a few improvements, and a few additions to its FAQ would easily make this a 5 star product when used for the specific purpose mentioned above.

REVISED REVIEW - After my initial review (below), I received both a voicemail and email from Gavin Miller who apologized profusely for the fact that I had received a version 1 item and also for the fact that the customer service individual I dealt with did not immediately escalate my concerns; apparently that customer service agent was very new. Gavin offered to send me a version 2 item at no cost so that I could try it out. I received the version 2 within a few days and the instruction pamphlet was also a new pamphlet (the one I previously received was not a good instruction pamphlet) which was much more user friendly.

The version 2 was much easier to both set up and use. The on/off switch was an essential change (not sure why the version 1 didn't have one) . I was able to use the QR code in the pamphlet to download their App and to use the QR code in the battery cover to pair the device with my Wifi. I had the device and the App completely set up within less than 10 minutes, which is very acceptable. I put this unit in one of my freezers that had a different unit (one I purchased after I returned my initial order from Tempstick) to see if the units would register the same or differently - both measured both temperature and humidity exactly the same.

In the end, the only real difference in the Tempstick and the other unit I purchased is that the Tempstick has unlimited text and email alerts when the temperature and/or humidity are out of the range you set and the other unit has only 20 text alerts per month (and unlimited email alert). I don't know if there is any difference in customer service because I did not have to contact customer service with the other product. That said, the other product goes for $65 for 2 units and Tempstick is $149 for 1 unit, so that is a big difference in price.

I do appreciate the fact that Tempstick immediately tried to 'make it right' once they became aware of my issue. Between the ease of use and the good follow-up of customer service, I was able to change my rating to 4 stars (from 2). If the price were more competitive, I would have given 5 stars now.

INITIAL REVIEW:

So these sounded great and despite the price I ordered two for my freezers that have 900 lbs of beef. When I got them, I opened the first one, followed the instructions and it would not turn on. I tested the lithium batteries and they were fine. I opened the second one and had the same problem. I called tech support and he said there was a little on/off switch on the top that needed to be turned on - ok, simple - I turned it on and it worked. I went to turn the second one on and there was no switch! I called tech support and after a considerable time and my description of the front of the item and the serial number, he indicated that I had an old version (version 1) and a new version (version 2). He indicated that to turn on the older version I would need to insert the battery and then . . . get this . . . take one battery out and then put it back in 6 TIMES! He indicated this was one of the changes in version 2.

I inquired as to why I received an old version and he said it was 'an Amazon issue'. I told him for $149 each it was his issue! He indicated that he would 'talk to the team' tomorrow and get back to me. Okay - so be it.

I followed the instructions on the second unit; downloaded the app, got everything set up and it took a test reading in the house (which was accurate). I confirmed on the app that all was working including the wi-fi and put it in the freezer. I had set it to take readings every 30 minutes. When 30 minutes went by I checked the app and there was no additional reading. It showed the wi-fi was working and had a good signal strength but that the stick itself was 'offline'. I took it out of the freezer and tried to get it to go back online, but to no avail. I tried doing a factory reset, but that changed nothing. I changed the batteries and that did nothing.

So - both units are being returned and I will look for a different freezer alarm. For the price of these things they should work as advertised but clearly don't. Based on reviews, if you just want to hang them in your house, they may work. I can tell you that in a freezer, they don't. Good luck if you order - you may get version 1 or you may get version 2.

The sensor, the wifi, and the app make an excellent monitoring setup for a reefer/freezer. The wifi manages to make it out of the freezer drawer with surprisingly good signal strength, the batteries last long enough (haven't changed them yet so I don't know how long), and the app's customizable alerts do an excellent job of sending email/test alerts to temperature excursions that are real problems with minimal/no false alarms.
The whole setup just plain works.

Shortly before leaving on an extended trip the furnace quit working. I was able to get it running again. The furnace is only a little over one year old so hopefully this was an isolated incident. I replaced the batteries in the thermostat - perhaps that was the problem? However, instead of worrying about it while I was gone (and for future winter escapes) I purchased this device. Set up was easy (and I am old!) I have it set for a notification if the temp in the house gets below 50 degrees and did some test notifications at setup. For real world testing, I placed it in the refrigerator which is located on the other side of the house from my wireless router. A few minutes later I did receive a notification via text on my phone. YAY - it works! Very happy with the device so far. But what happens if the power goes out (winter storm) and I have no internet? My power company sends me notifications of outages and expected service return timeline. Bases are covered and I am heading south for a few weeks.

Our expensive 2 year old fridge suddenly stopped cooling, and we lost $200 in groceries that were bought the day before the failure. We did some research and some home troubleshooting that seemed to fix it after a few days, so we re-stocked the fridge. Within 2 days, it failed again and we lost all those groceries too. At that point I was so paranoid about not being able to trust the fridge (we have folks with significant health issues in the house, and so having safe food is EXTREMELY important), so I started looking around for a temperature alarm.

I wanted something that didn't require a subscription, that monitored the temperature, which would also alert my phone/email of any big temperature fluctuations or when the temp went into the danger zone (over 40F). I wanted something that could also export the data, so we could show it to the warranty company and the repair technician. This fit the bill best, so even though it was significantly more expensive than I wanted, I got it. I'm so glad I did! It works wonderfully - we tested its temperature readings vs an analog thermometer & a laser thermometer for the first week and it always came out within a couple tenths of a degree. The app is easy to use and unobtrusive. The text alerts work very well with almost no delay. I didn't expect the ability to make it to readings more frequently when it finds the temperature outside of a set range, but that is now my favorite feature. I wish you could export the data to a spreadsheet file from the app, but you can only do that from the website.

When the repair guy came, we showed him the graphs of the temperature fluctuations the fridge had been experiencing in the week and a half between the first issue and his arrival, and his mind was blown. He'd never seen anything like it, and raved about how much easier it made diagnosing the issue for him. He said that without these graphs, he'd have had to assume a smaller problem and try that first, which he was confident it *wasn't*, which would've wasted weeks more time before being able to get him back out when that fix didn't work. Since he could see the graphs and see how wildly the temperature was swinging and how long it was staying above 40F, he was able to get right to the actual problem without having to follow company policy of doing the cheaper, less-likely repair first. He installed a couple new parts, and told us how to troubleshoot that ourselves if it didn't work. He said if we had to call back to schedule another warranty repair, to tell them about the graphs and list the readings for them on the phone so they could order the appropriate parts ahead of time. Thankfully, we didn't need to do that since his first repair seems to have fixed the problem well enough that we've now gone three weeks without it ever going above 40F for longer than 15 minutes (after someone opens the fridge for more than a minute or so).

I'm so happy with this thing, it was worth every penny for the peace of mind - and the time saved on unnecessary repairs.