I don’t believe I ever said “you have to have it on for functionality.” What I did say was that after I switched off the Leader Board function, I was unable to get the grill to connect. Turns out that it was apparently just coincidence; see below.
So, here’s an update; I removed the grill from...
Since I turned off the “Leader Board,” my Trailblazer has refused to connect to wifi; it just sits there with a slow-blinking red light. I tried deleting the Trailblazer from the app and then adding it as a new grill. It will not connect. I think I must have irritated RT by turning off their...
Your suspicion about easier setup is probably correct. In addition, people who buy routers are more interested in the latest technology (5G); people who use them to connect lower-tech items (like pellet grills) just want something that works with their product. Different markets for different folks.
The 2.4 GHz wireless signal penetrates walls better than 5 GHz and usually has better coverage distance. That’s the primary reason 2.4 GHz is preferred by manufacturers.
I agree. Extended low-temperature cooking really doesn’t produce the best results. Most of the smoke flavor is set in the first 2 hours. After that, IMO there’s not much to be gained.