Zakaria El Intissar

I'm an automation and industrial computing engineer with 12 years of experience in power system automation, SCADA communication protocols, and electrical protection. I build tools and write guides for Modbus, DNP3, IEC 101/103/104, and IEC 61850 on ScadaProtocols.com to help engineers decode, analyze, and troubleshoot real industrial communication systems.

Author Archives: Zakaria El Intissar

How to Decode IEC 61850 GOOSE Messages in Wireshark (Simple Step-by-Step Guide)

GOOSE messages are high-speed Ethernet signals used in modern substations to share protection and control information between devices. Although they may look technical, decoding them with Wireshark is actually very easy. With just a few filters and clicks, you can see events, state changes, and dataset values in real time. In this guide, you’ll learn step-by-step how to… Read More »

Securing IEC-104 Traffic Over OpenVPN: A Complete Technical Guide for Modern Critical Infrastructure

IEC-60870-5-104 (IEC-104) is one of the most widely used protocols for telecontrol communication in power utilities, substations, renewable energy sites, industrial automation, and critical infrastructure networks. Its simplicity, efficiency, and ability to run over standard TCP/IP networks make it attractive for SCADA systems worldwide. But IEC-104 has a serious security problem: IEC-104 has no built-in security — no… Read More »

GOOSE vs Sampled Values (SV) in IEC 61850: Clear Differences, Use Cases & Engineering Guide

IEC 61850 has transformed how substations communicate. In the past, everything depended on copper wiring, physical contacts, and slow serial links. Today, digital substations use Ethernet-based messages that move information instantly between IEDs. Two of the fastest and most important IEC 61850 services are: Even though both use Ethernet multicast, they serve completely different purposes. GOOSE carries decisions… Read More »

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

The IEC 60870-5-103 (IEC 103) protocol remains one of the most widely used communication standards for protection equipment in electrical substations. Engineers, technicians, and SCADA developers rely on it to exchange event data, trip information, timestamps, and analog values between protection relays and control systems. Whether you’re commissioning new equipment or analyzing fault records, having a reliable IEC… Read More »

Modbus Frame Decoder Online – Free Modbus RTU & TCP Tool

Looking for a fast, free, and reliable way to decode Modbus frames online? Our Modbus Frame Decoder Online Tool is the ultimate browser-based Modbus analyzer for engineers, technicians, and students. Decode or encode Modbus RTU and Modbus TCP frames instantly—no downloads, no installations, and 100% free. Whether you’re troubleshooting PLC communication, debugging SCADA data, or learning Modbus protocol… Read More »

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

In the world of industrial automation and SCADA systems, the DNP3 protocol (Distributed Network Protocol 3) plays a critical role in enabling secure and reliable data communication between devices. Whether you’re a utility engineer, cybersecurity analyst, or automation developer, decoding DNP3 frames is essential for troubleshooting, compliance, and interoperability. Manually decoding DNP3 hexadecimal data is time-consuming and error-prone.… Read More »

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

The IEC 60870-5-104 protocol (usually called IEC-104) is one of the main communication standards used in SCADA and substation automation. It defines how control centers, RTUs, and gateways exchange data over TCP/IP networks. If you work with substations, automation, protocol testing, or energy systems, you’ve probably seen IEC-104 hex frames. Reading these frames by hand is slow and… Read More »

IEC 61850 GOOSE Explained: Complete Guide to Fast Substation Messaging, Protection & Automation

GOOSE (Generic Object Oriented Substation Event) is one of the most important communication services defined in IEC 61850. It is used to exchange fast, event-driven messages between protection IEDs, bay controllers, and automation devices. GOOSE is designed to carry protection signals such as trips, interlocks, blockings, permissives, and alarms with very low latency and high reliability, replacing copper… Read More »