Step 7 basic trial

jdoerr

Here is the real scoop on V11. V11 is the TIA Portal. If you have Step 7 Pro and WinCC Flex Advanced, and you get the SUS for both, then you will get the TIA Portal for free. If you buy these software packeges, or Step 7 Basic, in 2010, Siemens has a promotion going where you will get the SUS (Software Update Service) for free for 2011. This means the TIA Portal V11is for free.

You will not be able to just order or buy V11. V11 is, in essence Step 7 Pro and WinCC Adv.

Just to explain in more detail - If you use and program only the 1200, you would have Step 7 Basic. There is a SUS for it which is about $100. For Basic, the V11 has some cool new features including new hardware (I/O modules, GSM module), enhanced functions like PID control with 2 inputs for one output (imagine an app. needing cooling and heating at the same time), data logging on the SD card (I know I have wanted this since the 1200 was released), and other advancedfeatures.

If you use other platforms like the ET200, S7-300 & 400, and have Step 7 Pro and WinCC, then V11 is going to give you the TIA Portal. This means that your new programming software for the ENTIRE line of Siemens automation products will be done on this one, uniform tool. This will include the 1200. Eventually, the integrated drives will also be configured usinng the portal.

With Step 7 Basic, you could only program the basic panels. With the portal, you can use any Siemens HMI with this software. Libraries are going to be big in that you can share them across many platforms.

I think Siemens is going to blowing A-B out of the water with this new software. They had originally scheduled it to be released in mid-January, but it is looking more like February. It will be worth the wait.

I have it on a virtual machine for some testing and it is awesome!

It won't be on any download as it is the biggest product announcement for Siemens in 15 years.