I've read numerous threads with interest regarding the poor heat control on gen 2 MES smokers since I believe my 30 is gen 2. Although most everything I've smoked has turned out great I do notice that food on the left side of the smoker always finishes first, about 10 degrees hotter when done then the right side and the shelf temperatures are all over the map. Today I fired up my MES 30, put my Maverick probes inside suspended on the middle shelf with a wet brick in between for load and set it at 275. The water pan is empty. The left side overshot to 309 and the right to 301....again colder on the right side. After about an hour I turned it down to 225 which is where I cook the most and the temps both dropped to 225. My next test with be to remove the water pan and add the ANMPS over the opening where the water pan was. I will fill the ANMPS about 1/2 full height, one row for testing. Let's see how much it heats up the MES and the effect on each side....Stay tuned...BTW, the Maverick probes are now registering 210 with the control still at 225...so it in now undershooting low...