SCADA Protocols. Simplified.
Practical SCADA protocol guides and free online tools for DNP3, IEC 60870, Modbus, and IEC 61850.
Decode frames right in your browser
No installation, no sign-up. Paste a hex dump, get a clean human-readable breakdown for the most common SCADA protocols.
DNP3 Frame Decoder
Paste raw DNP3 hex frames and decode link-layer headers, transport, function codes, and CRCs with human-readable breakdowns.
Modbus Frame Decoder / Encoder
Decode or build Modbus RTU/TCP frames: function codes, registers, coils, MBAP header, and CRC/LRC validation online.
IEC 101 Decoder Tool
Interpret IEC 60870-5-101 serial frames: link addresses, control fields, function codes, and ASDU type IDs with causes.
IEC 104 Decoder
Decode IEC 60870-5-104 APDUs, APCI start bytes, I/S/U formats, and ASDU payloads with time-tagged value inspection.
IEC 103 Protocol Decoder
Parse IEC 60870-5-103 protection equipment frames: ASDU 1–10, generic services, disturbance data, and type-specific events.
Recent articles
Deep technical dives on protocol details, field troubleshooting, interoperability pitfalls, and secure SCADA architectures.
ICCP vs IEC 61850: Two MMS Protocols, Two Jobs
ICCP vs IEC 61850 compared: why both run MMS on port 102, how their data models differ, control and reporting differences, and where the two meet in a utility.
IEC 61850 Report Control Blocks: BRCB and URCB Explained
IEC 61850 report control block reference: BRCB vs URCB, every attribute, TrgOps and OptFlds decoded, BufTm and IntgPd, and the write order that breaks clients.
ICCP Object Models: Indication Points and Control Points
ICCP object models from IEC 60870-6-802: the four point types, quality and validity flags, timestamps, the one-byte state encoding, SBO attributes, and tagging.
ICCP Operations and Services: The Complete TASE.2 Map
ICCP operations mapped to MMS services both directions: every TASE.2 operation and action, the variable names that disambiguate them, and the error codes that matter.
Industrial Dashboard Software: 6 Tools Compared
Industrial dashboard software compared: Grafana, PI Vision, Canary Axiom, Node-RED, FUXA and ThingsBoard, with protocol reach, cost and where each one fits.
Most Popular SCADA Systems and Where Each One Fits
Most popular SCADA systems compared: Ignition, WinCC, iFIX, AVEVA, FactoryTalk, MicroSCADA X and more, with protocol support, licensing, and fit notes.
Built for electrical engineers, not marketers.
Everything on this site is written from 12+ years of hands-on substation automation and control systems experience.
Deep Protocol Analysis
Frame-by-frame breakdowns of DNP3, IEC 104, Modbus and more — written by a senior power systems engineer.
Production-Grade Decoders
Five battle-tested online decoders. Paste raw hex, get clean ASDU, APDU and transport-layer interpretation.
Engineer-to-Engineer
No fluff, no clickbait. Real protocols, real field scenarios, real troubleshooting tips from 12+ years in substations.
Explore protocol references
Structured overviews, message structure diagrams, ASDU tables, and common gotchas for six widely-used protocols.