An infrared thermometer is a lot handier as long as one can get a beam on the actual stove top. Inserts and stoves that have a fully convective top are sometimes more challenging in this regard. The other advantage of using the Auber unit with a thermocouple is that it has high/low temp alarms you can set. This is very useful, particularly on startups and reloads. Busy people tend to get involved and forget to turn the air down if they are not watching the time. I like to carry a timer with me (cell phone works well) and set it to 7 or 10 minutes.