Knowledge Base

300+ SCADA Protocol Articles & Guides

Deep dives on Modbus, DNP3, IEC 60870-5-101/104, IEC 61850, OPC UA, Profinet, MQTT, IEC 62443, and substation automation — written for practicing engineers.

Showing 235252 of 280 articles
IEC 61850
IEC-61850

IEC 61850 Sampled Values (SV): Process Bus Reference

IEC 61850 Sampled Values reference: the 9-2 spec, frame structure and ASN.1 encoding, SmpSynch values, control blocks, IEC 62351-6 security, and PRP/HSR.

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Protocol Decoders
DNP3

DNP3 Decoder Tool Online | Decode DNP3 Frames Instantly (IEEE 1815)

Use our online DNP3 decoder to analyze frames instantly. Supports multi-frame reassembly, CRC checks, Secure Authentication decoding, and detailed field breakdown.

5
Protocol Decoders
IEC-103

IEC 103 Protocol Decoder: Free, Fast, In-Browser

Instantly decode IEC 60870-5-103 frames online. Analyze protection events, timestamps, ASDU types, and relay data with a reliable IEC-103 hex decoder.

4
Protocol Decoders
IEC-104

Instant IEC-104 Decoder - Paste Any IEC-104 Hex Frame, Get Clear Results

Decode IEC-104 frames instantly in your browser. Paste hex data to view APCI, ASDU, timestamps, values, and quality bits with a fast, offline IEC-104 decoder.

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IEC 61850
IEC-61850

IEC 61850 GOOSE Explained: Complete Technical Guide

IEC 61850 GOOSE explained in depth: PDU structure, the GOOSE control block, stNum and sqNum behavior, retransmission timing, multicast, and data sets.

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IEC 61850
IEC-61850

GOOSE vs Sampled Values in IEC 61850: Key Differences

GOOSE vs Sampled Values compared on five points: data type, transmission behavior, latency, Ethernet transport, and use cases, plus network requirements.

8
Protocol Decoders
MODBUS

Free Modbus Decoder & Encoder Online - Instantly Decode RTU & TCP Data

Free browser-based Modbus decoder and encoder. Analyze RTU and TCP frames, display register values correctly, and debug PLC communication fast.

6
IEC 61850
IEC-61850

IEC 61850 Data Sets: Static vs Dynamic Explained

IEC 61850 data sets compared: static, persistent dynamic, and non-persistent dynamic. How each is stored, how they map to MMS, and when to use which one.

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IEC 61850
IEC-61850

What Is IEC 61850? The Language of Power System Functions

IEC 61850 is a data model, not just a protocol. How logical nodes give the substation a vocabulary, how ACSI abstracts services, and what SCL actually does.

9
IEC 61850
IEC-61850

IEC 61850 MMS Explained: Reporting, Control, Services

IEC 61850 MMS explained end to end: the client-server model, how the object model maps to MMS, the service set, the communication stack, and real applications.

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Blog
DNP3

DNP3 vs IEC 61850: Full Technical Comparison of SCADA and Digital Substation Protocols

DNP3-IP, designed for distribution SCADA and remote telemetry, and IEC 61850, built for advanced substation automation and high-speed protection schemes.

10
Protocol Decoders
IEC-101

Instant IEC 101 Decoder - Paste Any IEC 101 Hex Frame, Get Clear Results

Free online IEC 101 Decoder. Paste your hex frame and get instant, clear link-layer and ASDU details. No installs, no uploads, everything runs in your browser.

4
Modbus Protocol
MODBUS

Modbus TCP Port 502: Setup, Security, Troubleshooting

Modbus TCP port 502 in depth: IANA registration, connection lifecycle, client limits, firewall rules, Wireshark filters, and the TLS secure variant on port 802.

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Blog
SCADA

How to Monitor SCADA Protocol Traffic (Modbus RTU/TCP, IEC-104, DNP3, IEC-61850)

Learn how to monitor Modbus, IEC-104, DNP3, and IEC 61850 traffic. Capture and analyze SCADA communication over serial and TCP/IP for reliable system performance.

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Blog
IEC-104

IEC 104 News 2026: Standard Updates, Security & NIS2 Compliance

Stay updated with the latest IEC 104 news for 2026, including IEC TS 60870-5-7 security extensions, standard status, testing updates, and SCADA interoperability.

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IEC 60870-5-104 Protocol
IEC-104

IEC 60870-5-104 ASDU Structure Explained — Fields and Format

Learn the IEC 60870-5-104 ASDU structure — Type ID, VSQ, Cause of Transmission, Common Address, and IOA explained with Diagrams.

11
DNP3 Protocol
DNP3

DNP3 Secure Authentication Version 6 (SAv6): Encryption and Authorization Explained

Learn how DNP3 Secure Authentication V6 (IEEE 1815-2020) adds AES-256-GCM encryption, AMP authorization, and LESS key management to SCADA systems.

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Blog
DNP3

DNP3 vs IEC 60870-5-104: Which Protocol Is Better for SCADA?

Compare DNP3 and IEC 60870-5-104 for SCADA systems—learn differences in architecture, performance, security, and use cases to choose the best protocol.

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