Bring Modbus RTU devices onto IoT — transparent, remotely configurable, your data.
iNut RS485 reads meters, sensors and VFDs over RS-485 and pushes them real-time to your own MQTT/app/web. It reports OK / Timeout / CRC status instantly — no more staring at blinking lights and guessing. It auto-switches WiFi ⇄ 4G to stay always online, with no data gaps.
3 pains with cheap Modbus gateways
There are plenty of WiFi/4G Modbus gateways on the market. If you've ever installed and operated one for real, you've likely hit exactly these three annoyances.
Config means going on-site
Every parameter change is another trip to the field, plugging in a USB cable, opening software. A plant with many scattered measuring points → a time and travel-cost nightmare.
No idea if it's running or failing
Configured, then the device goes silent. To know whether Modbus is talking, the technician has to stand there watching the RS485 lights blink and… guess.
Unstable connectivity
A weak plant network drops out; only one path — WiFi or 4G, with no auto-switchover on failure. It's also picky about devices — common chips like STM8 leave many cheap gateways stumped. Lose the link and you're blind to the data.
iNut RS485 solves all three — and keeps the cost-optimized spirit
It focuses on doing one thing really well: reading Modbus RTU over RS-485 and pushing real-time to your own MQTT (or the iNut app/web). But it adds three things that make the difference:
Remote config via the iNut app
With just an Internet connection, adjust the parameters of every measuring point without going on-site.
Real-time Modbus status
OK communication succeeded · Timeout slave not responding · CRC noise/link error. Wherever the error is, it shows there — no more guessing.
Always online & stable
Auto-switches WiFi ⇄ 4G under several policies (prefer WiFi/4G, failover) to stay online continuously; compatible even with STM8 chips that stump many cheap gateways.
Get onto IoT without touching complex infrastructure
Reads up to 4 slaves (expandable by product line), accepts 18 data types — enough for most multifunction meters, VFDs and meters. Runs standalone, not dependent on the cloud to operate.
Plug and play
Almost "buy and use" — replace a Chinese gateway, get onto IoT fast, cost-optimized.
Monitor from your phone
View data remotely, with real-time alarms pushed to the app when an incident occurs (leakage current, phase loss…).
Your data belongs to you
All communication goes through your own MQTT — no vendor lock-in, no subscription dependence.
Modbus RTU → MQTT
Bring "Modbus-RTU-only" devices onto app/web/MQTT — new life for old equipment.
FREE config support
Tell us what you need to monitor and when to alarm — we pre-configure the monitoring interface right in the iNut app/web. No coding required.
Always online · WiFi + 4G
Auto-switches between WiFi and 4G under several policies (prefer WiFi, prefer 4G, automatic failover…) — the device stays online continuously even on a flaky plant network.
iNut RS485 — technical summary
| Hardware | Dual-core ESP32 microcontroller — reads Modbus and handles networking in parallel, reliably. |
| Reads | 1–4 Modbus RTU slaves · 18 data types (word, int, float, double & variants). |
| Communication | RS-485 (Modbus RTU) → pushes real-time to your own internal MQTT (or the iNut app / web). |
| Status | Real-time reporting: OK / Timeout / CRC Error right on your MQTT. |
| Configuration | Remote via the iNut app (just needs Internet) — no field trip required. |
| Storage | No local storage (real-time transfer). Need long-term storage? → upgrade to iNut Datalogger. |
| Alarms | Real-time push to the mobile app when an incident occurs. |
| Networking | WiFi 2.4GHz & 4G — flexible auto-switching under several policies (prefer WiFi/prefer 4G/failover) to stay always online. |
| Chip compatibility | Supports even devices using STM8 chips — typically hard for many cheap gateways. |
Real-world deployment
Describe your system — we'll pre-configure a monitoring interface on the iNut app/web, FREE.
Using a Modbus RTU meter/sensor and want to view it remotely? It helps you picture what our solution will look like. It's also how we remove the "I don't know how to code" barrier.
Need data storage, many PLCs and SCADA control? Step up to iNut Datalogger.
iNut RS485 is a great gateway for 1–4 measuring points. But when you need long-term storage, to gather 100+ PLCs into one SCADA, multi-protocol (IEC 104/61850, IP Camera, API) or ON/OFF control with feedback — that's where iNut Datalogger comes in.
💡 Architecture tip: use many iNut RS485 as "satellites" at remote isolated points, then gather them all into one central iNut Datalogger over secure P2P. Start small, expand gradually — no need to start over.
iNut Datalogger / iNut PC — Edge data hub
- Read – store – monitor – control your whole plant
- Connect 100+ PLCs, beyond WinCC's ~8-PLC limit
- Multi-protocol: Modbus RTU/TCP, IEC 104, IEC 61850, MQTT, IP Camera, API
- FUXA SCADA: monitoring + control, store years of data for AI
Pricing
Listed retail prices. Enter a promo code in the form below to see your discounted price.
iNut Smartcity: RS485 WIFI
INUT-SC-R4WF- Spec: ESP32 — Dual CORE
- WiFi 2.4GHz
- Reads Modbus from 1–4 slaves, 18 data types (word, int, float, double and variants)
- Pushes data to YOUR internal MQTT
iNut Smartcity: RS485 WIFI/4G
INUT-SC-R4WF4G- Spec: ESP32 — Dual CORE
- WiFi 2.4GHz / Fail Over 4G LTE Cat1
- Reads Modbus from 1–4 slaves, 18 data types (word, int, float, double and variants)
- Pushes data to YOUR internal MQTT