Why is CompactDAQ not listed as a PAC?

[Mikeupnorth]

I'm trying to decide which NI PAC platform to use.  While investigating, I learned about CompactDAQ which seems like it should be on the list for PACs on the NI web.  Why not?

[Jochen]

PAC means "Programmable Automation Controller". This is a category of intelligent devices with the felxibility of a PC but the robustness of a PLC. At National Instruments we call cRIO, PXI and cFP products PAC devices.

By definition cDAQ is not a PAC device as without an integrated controller it can't act as a standalone device. In fact cDAQ is a data acquisition device that from a functional point of view is comparable to other USB-DAQ devices or Plugin-DAQ boards.

For more information about PAC please refer to this whitepaper.

Best regards,

Jochen Klier
National Instruments Germany