As for my AMNPS:
Hello Bear -
I use a variety of the wood pellets, so Ive had cherry in there etc. Recently, the hickory has been unsuccessful. The only one that's been successful is the maple - but not consistant.
The MES is the latest generation - Signature model with the controls in front. It has meat probe sensors etc.
No water in smoker - I use sand.
I ordered the blend from cookin pellets .com. What have you had success with?
The AMPNS is useless to me until I get the mailbox set up going on next payday.
Once I find a great burning pellet I will order a pallet of them!
I get all my Pellets from Todd, and the only ones I can't keep going in my Generation #1 and my Generation #2.5 is Cherry.
I always try to get people to keep trying to get theirs going before they resort to a Mailbox, but it sounds like yours is one of the ones that has to go there. Seems you've done all the things on the list of "Try This".
A lot of guys love the Mailbox for various reasons, but I just never wanted the extra hassle, and I don't have the room to leave it hooked up, unless I get rid of my Weber Q, or one of Mrs Bear's Rocking chairs. Neither one of those things are going to happen!!!
Bear