IO Ninja Makes Working With Modbus Easier Than Ever
Modbus is ubiquitous in the industrial world. It is simple, time-tested, and robust. However, because it is a very old communications protocol, Modbus can feel cryptic, particularly by modern standards.
IO Ninja vastly simplifies working with Modbus thanks to two features: the Modbus Analyzer layer and binary packet templates.
The Modbus Analyzer layer interprets Modbus request and response packets and then displays them in a human-readable format. There is no need to translate every bit of the packet manually — just add the layer to the pipeline, and everything is automatically parsed for you.
Packet templates make it easy to create packets for transmission in various protocols. Just load a stock template (or create your own), and use a property grid to tailor the packet to your needs. For Modbus RTU, this script will even automatically calculate the checksum.
Check out the video below and see for yourself just how straightforward working with Modbus can be. In it, we use IO Ninja as a Modbus master to poll the registers of several Tibbo Bus Probes.
Free Modbus tools lack the sophistication for anything more than occasional use, while most paid applications are quite expensive and many still don’t offer a streamlined experience. Competitively priced, IO Ninja provides all of the tools you need to work with Modbus (and more), as well as a clean, modern interface.
LTPP3(G2) Now Available With Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
The Size 3 Linux Tibbo Project PCB (LTPP3), Gen. 2 is now available with its Wi-Fi/Bluetooth add-on module. Designed specifically for the LTPP3(G2), this module adds the Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth/BLE 5.0 interfaces.
The latest version of Tibbo’s Yocto-based distribution supports the module natively, including easy configuration via the built-in web interface. The Personal Package Archive for our Ubuntu-derived distribution includes scripts to install the drivers for the two interfaces and facilitate connecting with other wireless devices. If Buildroot is your tool of choice, use Tibbo’s external layers for the Plus1 to ensure support.
