When a Modbus device must talk to a PLC on EtherNet/IP or PROFINET, a protocol gateway translates between the two. Here is how the main options differ.
A Modbus meter or drive cannot simply be plugged into a PROFINET or EtherNet/IP controller. A protocol gateway polls the Modbus device on one side and presents its data to the PLC on the other side as ordinary I/O. Two product lines dominate this job: Moxa's MGate 5 series and HMS's Anybus family. This is a desk-based comparison from public documentation, not a bench test.
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Which one fits depends on what is on each side of the gateway.
One serial port and two Ethernet ports; converts Modbus to EtherNet/IP and can also publish to MQTT.
A serial master that presents RS-232/485 devices to a PLC on one chosen industrial Ethernet network.
A different job: it joins two networks (for example Modbus TCP and Modbus RTU, or EtherNet/IP and Modbus RTU) rather than polling serial devices.
The X-gateway is left out of the table because its figures vary by variant. Figures are from the maker pages under Sources.
| Specification | Moxa MGate 5105-MB-EIP | HMS Anybus Communicator ABC3090-A |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Modbus (serial or TCP) to EtherNet/IP, plus MQTT publishing | Serial master to one chosen industrial Ethernet network |
| PLC side | EtherNet/IP scanner or adapter | PROFINET, EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP or Modbus TCP, set by firmware |
| Serial side | 1 port, RS-232/422/485 with 2 kV isolation; Modbus master or slave | RS-232/RS-485; Modbus RTU master, up to 32 servers (its spec table says 31), 150 commands |
| Data size | Modbus: 100 commands, 2048 bytes in/out. EtherNet/IP: 496 bytes in/out | Up to 1500 bytes per direction, depending on the network |
| Cloud / MQTT | MQTT v3.1.1, TLS, 300 tags; Azure IoT Hub and Alibaba built in | Not listed on the product page |
| Configuration | See Moxa's manual (not covered on the page we read) | Web interface, drag-and-drop frame and transaction builders, no software to install |
| Supply | 12–48 VDC, dual redundant inputs | 12–30 VDC |
| Temperature | 0 to 60 °C; -T version −40 to 75 °C | −25 to 70 °C |
| Housing | Metal, IP30 | PC/ABS, IP20, DIN-rail |
| Certifications listed | ATEX, IECEx, UL, CE; Class I Division 2 | CE, UL, KC |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years |
Most gateway projects stall on these, not on the hardware.
This is a desk-based comparison using the manufacturers' public documentation, read in October 2026. We did not bench-test these units for this article. Specifications, firmware and model status change, and even a manufacturer's own pages can disagree — always confirm in the current datasheet before you specify or buy. Brand and product names belong to their owners; mention here is not an endorsement.
Tell us what devices you need to connect and we will recommend a gateway and a wiring plan.
