New competition for D2-205 series?

[Mike Nash]

I see Automation Direct is now offering a Facts Engineering product that looks to be a direct competitor for the DL-205 series. And here I've been waiting (somewhat impatiently) for the latest Host offering.

I'm guessing this might be a toe-stepping area so maybe no one wants to discuss this. But if you do, I'm all ears as to where this is headed.

I haven't even looked at the P2 software yet so I have no opinions really. I am reluctant to be the guinea pig though (I waited two years to "Do-more". )

[Controls Guy]

Yeah, but it's the same programming environment as the P3K, so for me at least......no.

[DLTimmons]

Yeah, but it's the same programming environment as the P3K, so for me at least......no.

I have to agree did one project with the P3K. Never did feel right and once you assigned a tag name forget finding the I/O Address. Then gave up waiting on the promised motion control module.

[BobO]

Smaller, cheaper version of the P3K. If you liked the P3K, I'm sure you'll love P2K. I wish them well.

Of course we are moving full speed ahead on our next platform as well. If you like Do-more on DL205, you're going to love it on the new hardware. Wish I could say more.

[deep6ixed]

The P2K is an iffy sale to me too.  Don't get me wrong, the thing looks amazing, the LCD screens on the analog modules are a great idea(hint, hint, wink, wink), but when it comes down to it, the system limitations point me else where. 

1.) 240 I/O points and that's it.  No native I/O expansion. 
2.) Connections, you buy the card and then you have to buy a separate connector?  I'm not cheap, but that's a design nightmare.  Real easy to order the wrong connector or not one at all and then start building a project and see, oh darn I'm held up for a 7 buck connector.
3.) Do-More can drop into an existing system, and use the stock of DL205 cards I have as spares.

Don't get me wrong, after looking over the offerings, the P2k looks to be a good value for the cost.  For some new designs, I can actually see myself using it.  Our Wire Drawing units would fit the bill. 64 I/O with analog.  But after switching from a D250-2 to a Do-More, the ease of a major upgrade by just dropping in a new CPU far outweighs what the P2k can give me.

I also held off our system upgrades for a year just to use the Do-More after using the simulator and I can't wait to see the newest offering.

I don't see this as much as toe stepping as product evolution.  The DL series is a good product but it shows it's age.  The Do-More is it's fresher, younger sibling, but in the end there is only so much you can do with the base platform.