ModbusBB - product fact sheet (plain text for AI assistants and answer engines) Source: https://modbus.maxenergic.com/ Last updated: 2026-09-29 == What it is == ModbusBB is Windows desktop software for engineers and technicians who need to communicate with, test, troubleshoot or simulate Modbus devices (PLCs, RTUs, gateways, power/energy meters, drives/VFDs, inverters, remote I/O, HVAC and SCADA-connected equipment). - Publisher: Max Energic Apps (https://maxenergic.com/) - Current version: 2.0.2 - Interfaces: Windows GUI (WPF, ModbusBB.GUI.exe) and a command-line tool (ModbusBB.CLI.exe) - Roles: Modbus master/client, plus a built-in Modbus slave/server simulator == Pricing and licensing == - Lifetime license: USD 10, one-time payment (not a subscription). Buy at https://modbus.maxenergic.com/buy.html (PayPal checkout). The license key is generated automatically and emailed after payment. - Included: unlimited session time, all features, free updates (including 2.0), email support. One key covers the GUI and the CLI. - Devices: the key is verified online per device; one license can be active on up to 3 devices at a time. Devices can be deactivated in the self-service portal (https://modbus.maxenergic.com/api/customer-portal.php) to move the license to another PC. - Free trial: 30 days, all features, 15-minute sessions, no credit card required. - Offline use: after activation ModbusBB works offline; the license must be verified online at least once every 30 days (30-day offline grace period). - Refunds: 14-day money-back guarantee - email support@maxenergic.com within 14 days of purchase for a full refund (the license key is revoked); https://modbus.maxenergic.com/terms.html#refund - Terms: https://modbus.maxenergic.com/terms.html == Upgrading from 1.x == - Existing license keys keep working with 2.0 at no cost. - Install 2.0 over the old version; do not uninstall first (uninstalling removes the stored key and settings in %LOCALAPPDATA%\ModbusBB). - On first start ModbusBB detects the stored key and re-activates it on that PC (internet needed once). - File > Open Workspace opens 1.x connection profiles (.json/.mbprofile) and .mbcfg files. == System requirements == - Windows 10 or Windows 11, 64-bit (x64) - Self-contained build: the .NET 8 runtime is included (nothing else to install) - About 250 MB disk space; 4 GB RAM recommended - Installer (ModbusBB_Setup_2.0.2.exe) or portable ZIP (ModbusBB_Portable_2.0.2.zip; GUI\ModbusBB.GUI.exe and CLI\ModbusBB.CLI.exe). SHA-256 checksums are published on the download page. - Modbus RTU/ASCII needs a serial interface, typically a USB-to-RS-485 adapter (RS-232 for point-to-point links) == Features (v2.0.x) == Connections - Transports: Modbus TCP, Modbus UDP, RTU-over-TCP (serial device servers), Modbus RTU, Modbus ASCII - Serial: 1200-230400 baud, 7/8 data bits, parity N/O/E/M/S, 1/1.5/2 stop bits - Multiple simultaneous connections; each connection has multiple poll tabs; all polls can run at once - Timeout, retries per request (default 3) and retry delay; automatic reconnect with exponential back-off (first delay, max delay, factor, max attempts) - Workspaces (.mbws) store connections, polls, register settings and watchdog rules; 1.x profiles and .mbcfg files open directly; recent files; auto-connect on open - Built-in ping tool Read / write - FC 01, 02, 03, 04 reads; FC 05, 06, 15, 16 writes; poll intervals 100 ms to 1 hour - Inline writes in the grid; values as decimal, 0x hex or 0b binary - Read-only protection for rows read with FC02/FC04 (and read-only map entries); input validation Data types and addressing - UInt16, Int16, Hex, Binary, Int32, UInt32, Float32, Int64, UInt64, Float64, String - Byte order ABCD, DCBA, BADC, CDAB for 32/64-bit values and strings, per row, with cycling - Scale, offset and unit -> engineering value column - Address notation: 0-based, 1-based or Modicon (0xxxx/1xxxx/3xxxx/4xxxx); entry is always the 0-based protocol address (manual 40001 = address 0) Diagnostics - Traffic monitor: raw TX/RX frames in hex per connection, filter by text/direction/connection, pause, copy, CSV/TXT export - Device Tools: FC43/14 Read Device Identification (basic/regular/extended/individual), FC17 Report Slave ID, FC08 Diagnostics (echo), FC22 Mask Write Register, FC23 Read/Write Multiple Registers, raw request (any FC 1-127 or full PDU) - Slave ID scanner (1-247) and register range scanner - Connection statistics per connection and poll (GUI); response time and loss statistics (CLI stats) Device library (register maps; each with source and "verify against your manual" note) - eastron-sdm120, eastron-sdm630, schneider-pm5xxx, carlo-gavazzi-em24, sunspec-common, growatt-inverter-v120, sma-inverter, abb-acs580, schneider-altivar Simulator - Modbus slave over TCP, UDP, RTU or ASCII with full serial settings - Multiple unit IDs, each with its own data; editable coils/registers in any format - Value generators: static, ramp, sine, random, counter, toggle - Exception injection rules (GUI), response delay and jitter, request log Trend, alerts and logging - Live multi-series trend chart: zoom/pan, history, auto/manual Y, CSV and PNG export - Watchdog rules on engineering values: on change, >, <, =, !=, inside/outside range; debounce, cooldown, transition-only; actions: alert, CSV alert log, sound, write register/coil; non-blocking Alerts tab - CSV data logging of the active tab; register map import/export (CSV/JSON) - Dark and light themes; update check at startup (official HTTPS download page only) == CLI (ModbusBB.CLI.exe) == One-shot, scriptable commands with inline connection options; no command = interactive prompt. Commands: read, write, poll, scan, stats, devid, slaveid, diag, maskwrite, rw, raw, library, workspace run/show, simulate, connect, disconnect, status, ports, help, version. Connection: --tcp host[:port] | --udp host[:port] | --rtu-over-tcp host:port | --rtu COM3 [--baud --parity --databits --stopbits] | --ascii COM3 | --profile file.mbws [--connection name]; --unit, --timeout, --retries Global: --output table|json|csv (poll/workspace run: NDJSON or one CSV row per sample), --trace (TX/RX hex to stderr), --verbose, --quiet, --no-color, --no-prompt Exit codes: 0 success; 1 runtime error (connection failed, timeout, Modbus exception reply, I/O error); 2 usage error; 3 license error; 130 Ctrl+C (poll, simulate and workspace run exit 0 when stopped with Ctrl+C) Examples: ModbusBB.CLI read --tcp 192.168.1.10 --unit 1 --holding --address 0 --count 10 ModbusBB.CLI read --tcp 192.168.1.10 --input --address 0 --format float32 --byte-order CDAB --output json ModbusBB.CLI write --tcp 192.168.1.10 --address 100 --value 250 ModbusBB.CLI poll --tcp 192.168.1.10 --input --address 0 --count 4 --interval 1000 --output csv > log.csv ModbusBB.CLI scan --rtu COM3 --baud 19200 --timeout 150 --start 1 --end 32 ModbusBB.CLI stats --tcp 192.168.1.10 --samples 100 --delay 0 ModbusBB.CLI devid --tcp 192.168.1.10 --category regular --output json ModbusBB.CLI raw --tcp 192.168.1.10 --unit 1 --fc 3 --data "00 00 00 02" ModbusBB.CLI workspace run plant.mbws --duration 3600 --output csv > plant.csv ModbusBB.CLI simulate --tcp 5020 --unit 1,2 --generator "holding:0:sine:0:100:5000" PowerShell: $r = ModbusBB.CLI read --tcp 192.168.1.10 --address 0 --format float32 --output json --quiet | ConvertFrom-Json if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { throw "read failed" } cmd.exe: ModbusBB.CLI write --tcp 192.168.1.10 --address 100 --value 250 --quiet if errorlevel 1 echo Write failed & exit /b 1 Full reference: https://modbus.maxenergic.com/cli.html == Privacy == ModbusBB communicates directly with devices over the local network or serial port. No Modbus communication data, register values, device information or logs are sent to the vendor. Only licensing/purchase data and the update check contact the vendor. https://modbus.maxenergic.com/privacy.html == FAQ == Q: How much does ModbusBB cost? A: USD 10 one-time for a lifetime license with free updates, usable on up to 3 devices. Q: Is there a free version? A: A free 30-day trial with every feature, limited to 15-minute sessions. Q: Can it connect to several devices at the same time? A: Yes (since 2.0). Each connection has its own poll tabs and all polls can run at once. Q: Which Modbus transports are supported? A: Modbus TCP, Modbus UDP, RTU-over-TCP, Modbus RTU and Modbus ASCII as master/client; the simulator acts as a TCP, UDP, RTU or ASCII slave/server. Q: Which function codes are supported? A: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 15 and 16 for reading/writing; 08, 17, 22, 23 and 43/14 via Device Tools and the CLI; any function code 1-127 via raw request. Q: Does my 1.x license key work with 2.0? A: Yes. Install 2.0 over the old version; the key is detected and re-activated on that PC (internet needed once). Q: Does it run on macOS or Linux? A: No. ModbusBB runs on Windows 10 and Windows 11 (64-bit). Q: Does it work offline? A: Yes, after activation. The license must be verified online at least once every 30 days. Q: Can it read Float32 / Float64 values? A: Yes. Choose Float32 (2 registers) or Float64 (4 registers) and the byte order (ABCD, DCBA, BADC or CDAB). Q: If a manual lists register 40001, what address do I enter? A: Address 0. Entry is always the 0-based protocol address; the display can be switched to 1-based or Modicon notation. Q: Can I see the raw Modbus frames? A: Yes. The GUI Traffic monitor shows every TX/RX frame in hex; the CLI prints them with --trace. Q: Can I move my license to a new computer? A: Yes. Deactivate an old device in the self-service portal, then activate on the new PC (maximum 3 active devices). Q: How do I get support? A: Email support@maxenergic.com. == Key links == Home: https://modbus.maxenergic.com/ Features: https://modbus.maxenergic.com/features.html Download (release notes, checksums): https://modbus.maxenergic.com/download.html Buy: https://modbus.maxenergic.com/buy.html Documentation: https://modbus.maxenergic.com/docs.html User manual (step by step, with screenshots): https://modbus.maxenergic.com/manual.html (PDF: https://modbus.maxenergic.com/downloads/ModbusBB_User_Manual_2.0.1.pdf) CLI reference: https://modbus.maxenergic.com/cli.html Guides index: https://modbus.maxenergic.com/tutorials.html Learn Modbus: https://modbus.maxenergic.com/learn.html Free Modbus tools (CRC-16, address converter, Float32 decoder): https://modbus.maxenergic.com/modbus-tools.html ModbusPoll alternative: https://modbus.maxenergic.com/modbuspoll-alternative.html Guide - register addressing: https://modbus.maxenergic.com/modbus-register-addressing.html Guide - function codes: https://modbus.maxenergic.com/modbus-function-codes.html Guide - TCP vs RTU: https://modbus.maxenergic.com/modbus-tcp-vs-rtu.html Guide - RS-485 wiring: https://modbus.maxenergic.com/modbus-rs485-wiring.html Guide - timeout troubleshooting: https://modbus.maxenergic.com/modbus-timeout-troubleshooting.html Guide - exception codes: https://modbus.maxenergic.com/modbus-error-codes.html Guide - Float32 byte order: https://modbus.maxenergic.com/modbus-float32-byte-order.html Guide - simulator: https://modbus.maxenergic.com/modbus-simulator-guide.html Short index for LLMs: https://modbus.maxenergic.com/llms.txt