Communication 
  2.3 Modbus communication 
SIMOCODE pro - Communication 
Function Manual, 11/2018, A5E40508495002A/RS-AC/003 
109 
 
Modbus RTU error codes 
Exception responses 
Operating principle 
On recognition of an error in the request frame from the master (illegal register address, for 
example), the slave sets the highest value bit in the function code of the response frame 
(that is, the requested function code + 80h). This step is followed by transmission of a byte 
with the exception code that describes the cause of the error. 
Typical exception code frame 
The exception code frame from the slave has the following structure, for example: slave 
address 5, requested function code 5, exception code 2. 
Response frame from slave: 
 
Error codes supported by SIMOCODE pro 
 
 
Meaning in 
accordance with 
Modbus 
specification 
1  Illegal function  Illegal function code 
The requested function code is not supported. It is not included in the list 
of function codes supported by SIMOCODE pro (see Modbus RTU 
function codes (Page 98)).  
2  Illegal data 
Illegal bit or register 
Address does not exist. For functions that work with an addressing 
range, all addresses affected by the request are checked.  
3  Illegal data value 
Slave has illegal data 
value 
The number of addresses is not correct. The number of parameters for 
the requested function was too high (or 0)  
4  Failure in 
Associated 
Slave has internal 
error 
There is an unspecified server error that prevented execution of the 
request. 
6  Busy, rejected 
message 
Slave is not ready to 
receive 
The device is busy and unable to process the request at this time. This 
can occur following a parameterization operation via Modbus when the 
new parameter values are transferred to the device.