Modbus is a simple protocol, but the values inside registers can be displayed in many different ways. A single 16-bit register can represent: The challenge is that the Modbus protocol never tells you how to interpret the number. Only the device’s documentation explains the meaning. To decode Modbus data correctly, engineers must understand the different data type formats… Read More »
Industrial networks depend heavily on reliable and continuous communication. Protection devices, SCADA gateways, and automation controllers must exchange information with strict timing and without interruption. Even a brief communication loss can cause protective functions to misoperate or lose visibility of the grid. To avoid this, industrial networks rely on seamless Ethernet redundancy methods that guarantee zero-time recovery. The… Read More »
High-Availability Seamless Redundancy, or HSR, is one of the most advanced real-time redundancy mechanisms in industrial communication. It is mostly used in IEC 61850 digital substations, protection and control systems, and process bus networks where communication cannot stop even for a fraction of a second. HSR ensures zero-time recovery, meaning communication continues without interruption even during link or… Read More »
Parallel Redundancy Protocol (PRP) is a method used in industrial networks to make sure communication never stops—literally never. Many systems around us depend on constant data flow to stay safe and reliable. Think of power substations, industrial robots, trains, chemical plants, and automated production lines. If the network drops even one message, things can go wrong or shut… Read More »
Modbus TCP/IP is one of the most widely adopted methods for connecting industrial devices over Ethernet networks. It is used in factories, power plants, water treatment facilities, building automation systems, and countless other fields where equipment must exchange information reliably. Even though modern automation protocols offer advanced features, Modbus TCP/IP remains extremely common because it is easy to… Read More »
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 »
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 »
Sampled Values (SV) are one of the core technologies behind modern IEC 61850 digital substations. They allow current and voltage measurements from CTs and VTs to be transmitted as digital Ethernet messages instead of analog signals over copper wires. If GOOSE replaces binary wiring, Sampled Values replace CT/VT analog wiring. This article explains how SV works, why it… Read More »
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 »
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 »