LTDVE8CH-20 – INSTRUCTION MANUAL
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a subset of the Modbus/RTU slave protocol. A second option is to use the Ethernet interface.
Supported Ethernet speeds are 10 Mbit/s and 100 Mbit/s with auto negotiation. The Ethernet interface
allows to configure the controller using the Modbus/TCP slave protocol, the Modbus/UDP slave
protocol or the HTTP protocol. For supporting the latter, the controller provides an internal web server
accessible by most common web browsers.
In the next sections, an overview of the Modbus/RTU, Modbus/TCP and Modbus/UDP protocols is
given.
14.1. Operation with Modbus
The Modbus/RTU, Modbus/TCP and Modbus/UDP protocols are supported by most programmable
logic controllers (PLCs) with a suitable communication port. The controller can also be configured
by any PC with a proper interface.
Being simple and robust, over the years Modbus became a well-known communication protocol and
it is now a commonly available means of connecting industrial electronic devices. The development
and update of Modbus protocols has been managed by the Modbus Organization since April 2004.
The Modbus Organization is an association of users and suppliers of Modbus compliant devices that
seeks to drive the adoption and evolution of Modbus.
The organization web site is:
More information, including Modbus specifications, implementation guides and code fragments can
be downloaded from:
http://www.modbus.org/specs.php
14.1.1. Comparison of Modbus/RTU, Modbus/TCP and Modbus/UDP
The Modbus/RTU, Modbus/TCP and Modbus/UDP are pretty similar. The main difference is that
Modbus/RTU is used on serial lines, while Modbus/TCP and Modbus/UDP are used on Ethernet
connections. Modbus/TCP is connection-oriented and is implemented using TCP packets, while
Modbus/UDP is connectionless and is implemented using UDP packets.
The controller implements Modbus/RTU with a serial RS485 interface (by default operating at 9600
bits per second, with even parity). The controller implements Modbus/TCP and Modbus/UDP with
an Ethernet interface operating at 10 Mbit/s or 100 Mbit/s with auto negotiation.
14.1.2. Supported function codes
Modbus is a request/reply protocol and offers services specified by function codes.
The controller implements a restricted subset of the Modbus slave protocol. The list in
function codes supported by the controller
summarizes the Modbus function codes supported by the
controller with the current firmware.
Function name
Function code
Note
Read Holding Registers
0x03