First the tstat probe does not go INSIDE the cage. It needs to be OUTSIDE between the uth and the bottom of the cage. If you already stuck the uth on the cage bottom you can also secure the probe under the uth. It should be placed in the middle and foil tape is a great choice to do so. Just tape the wire directly behind the probe and no the actual probe itself.
Next the amount of substrate over the uth should be 1/4 inch at most. Over my uth in the hides you can see the glass. You want the glass to be the hottest place the snake can reach and do not want to thick of a layer of substrate to block the heat. Doing this will make you raise the tstat temp higher and the snake can then burrow or push the substrate aside and get to the glass which will then be way to hot. I have about a two inch layer of substrate in the rest of the cage but the uth area is extremely thin.
As for the random temps it is going to be a mixture of the substrate and the way a uth is made. The uth pad has a heated wire that is zig zagged through the two layers of plastic cover. This zig zag pattern creates a gap between each loop and will cause a bit of uneven temps when measured going across the pad. As long as the numbers are somewhat close and within the desired range you are good. Bending and/or creasing the uth can also break the heating elements inside and cause dead spots and uneven temps.
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