Easy BACnet · BACnet field reference

Get a BACnet points list off a building network, in minutes

What this is

Easy BACnet is a free Android app for building-automation technicians. It broadcasts a BACnet Who-Is, lists every BACnet/IP device that answers, reads every point on each one, and exports the lot as a CSV attached to an email. No account, no analytics, no server — everything happens on your phone and your local network.

What it does

Scan for devices — finds BACnet/IP devices on the local subnet, including devices reached through a BACnet router on an MS/TP trunk.
Browse points — every object on a device, with its type, instance number and name.
Read live values — present value, units, status flags and description, with a refresh.
See who is commanding a point — the priority array and relinquish default, so you can tell whether a point is being overridden.
Write and release — command a point at a chosen BACnet priority, or release it back to automatic. Write mode is off by default and turns itself off every time the app starts.
Export a CSV — device ID, device name, device IP, object type, object number, point name, present value, units and status.

Using the app

Guides

What is a BACnet points list?
A BACnet points list is an inventory of every object a BACnet device exposes: object type, instance number, name, present value and units.
How do I find my BACnet points list?
Four ways to get a BACnet points list: ask your controls contractor, export from the BMS front end, scan the network with a discovery tool, or read Object_List from the controller directly.
A vendor asked for my BACnet information — what do I send them?
What to send when an integrator, analytics vendor or contractor asks for your BACnet information: device IDs, IP addresses, a points list, network topology, and what to hold back.
Why can't I find my BACnet devices when I scan?
A BACnet scan returning nothing is usually a network problem: wrong subnet with no BBMD, Wi-Fi blocking broadcasts, client isolation, a non-standard port, or devices behind an MS/TP router.
Why is my BACnet point stuck, and how do I release an override?
How the BACnet priority array works, why a commanded point stays commanded, and how to release an override by writing NULL at the same priority level.
What do the BACnet object types mean?
Reference table of BACnet object types: Analog and Binary Input/Output/Value, Multi-state, Device, Schedule, Trend Log and the rest, with what each is for.
What is a BACnet Device ID, and why do duplicates matter?
A BACnet Device ID (device instance number) uniquely identifies a controller across the entire BACnet internetwork.
How do I use Easy BACnet to get a points list off a building?
Step by step: connect to the building network, scan for BACnet devices, look at their points, and email the whole lot as a CSV.
How do I write to a BACnet point with Easy BACnet, and release it afterwards?
Turning on write mode, choosing a priority, confirming the write, and - the part people forget - releasing the point back to automatic control before you leave.
How do I build a custom remote for a BACnet device in Easy BACnet?
Build a drag-and-drop control screen for one air handler or controller: setpoint arrows, on/off switches, readouts and a release button.

Notes for anyone scanning a building network

Connect to the same subnet as the controllers. BACnet discovery is a broadcast and broadcasts do not cross routers without a BBMD.
Discovery uses UDP port 47808. Some sites use 47809 and up.
Reading is harmless. Writing is not — a commanded point stays commanded until it is released. Read the priority guide before you write to anything on a live building.