Teltonika RUT204 CAN BUS LTE Router

Teltonika RUT204 – 4G LTE Router with Native CAN Bus

The Teltonika RUT204 is a 4G LTE Cat 4 industrial router with an integrated CAN Bus interface, built for fleet telematics, vehicle diagnostics, and industrial machine connectivity. Unlike standard cellular routers that require an external CAN-to-IP converter, the RUT204 handles CAN frame forwarding over IP directly – reducing hardware count and installation complexity in mobile and fixed plant environments.

Alongside the CAN interface, the RUT204 carries RS232, integrated GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS), dual internal SIM slots, active PoE input, and a wide 9-57 VDC power range. It runs RutOS, the same Linux-based operating system used across the Teltonika Teltonika 4G router range, giving access to OpenVPN, WireGuard, IPsec, Modbus TCP, MQTT, DNP3, and full Teltonika RMS remote management. Power consumption is under 3.5 W at maximum load – well suited to battery and solar-backed installations.

Key Features

• 4G LTE Cat 4 – 150 Mbps download / 50 Mbps upload; 3G and 2G fallback; bands B1, B3, B5, B7, B8, B20, B28 FDD and B38, B40, B41 TDD (Europe/APAC variant)
• Native CAN Bus interface – integrated CAN hardware on 6-pin terminal block; CAN frame forwarding over IP (CAN Gateway); CANopen Client and SAE J1939 Client on firmware roadmap
• Dual internal SIM slots – Mini SIM (2FF), double stacked tray, 1.8 V/3 V; automatic failover on weak signal, data limit, roaming, no network, or connection failure
• GNSS – GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo and QZSS; NMEA 0183; NTRIP client; configurable geofence zones; TAVL server support
• RS232 serial – TX/RX on 6-pin terminal block; Modbus RTU, Serial over IP, modem and NTRIP client functions
• Flexible power – 9-57 VDC via 2-pin DC connector; active PoE input 802.3af Class 0 on LAN port; passive PoE input 16-57 VDC on LAN port; reverse polarity protection
• Internal Micro SD – up to 2 TB; FAT32, NTFS, ext2/3/4; Samba share support for local data logging
• Wi-Fi 4 (802.11b/g/n) – access point and station modes; WPA3-SAE, WPA2-Enterprise; up to 50 simultaneous clients
• Industrial protocols – Modbus TCP/RTU, OPC UA, DNP3, DLMS/COSEM, BACnet RTU, MQTT broker and publisher, Data to Server
• VPN and security – OpenVPN (27 encryption methods), WireGuard, IPsec IKEv1/IKEv2, GRE, L2TP, DMVPN, ZeroTier, Tinc, OpenConnect; full firewall and DDoS prevention
• Cloud and management – Teltonika RMS, Azure IoT Hub, AWS IoT Core, ThingWorx, Cumulocity; TR-069; SNMP v1/v2/v3; FOTA
• Rugged build – anodised aluminium housing; 83 x 25 x 83 mm; 140 g; -40 to +75°C; IP30; DIN rail, wall or flat surface mounting (kit sold separately)

Applications

Vehicle Fleet Telematics and Diagnostics

The RUT204 connects directly to a vehicle’s CAN bus via the 6-pin terminal block. CAN frames are forwarded over the cellular connection to a fleet management platform without an external converter. The integrated GNSS provides real-time position data alongside CAN payload data. The 9-57 VDC power range covers 12 V and 24 V vehicle electrical systems, and the -40 to +75°C operating range handles cab and underbonnet environments.

Industrial Machine Monitoring

Machines using CAN-based control systems – packaging equipment, agricultural machinery, construction plant – can be monitored remotely over 4G without modifying existing CAN wiring. The RS232 interface handles legacy serial equipment on the same installation. Local data is buffered to the internal SD card during connectivity gaps and pushed to the server when the link recovers.

Energy and Utilities – Remote Asset Management

Smart meters and grid edge devices using DLMS/COSEM or DNP3 can be connected via RS232 or Ethernet. GNSS positioning identifies the asset location within the RMS dashboard. The wide voltage input suits solar charge controller outputs and battery-backed distribution boards without a separate DC converter. Power consumption below 3.5 W minimises draw on limited energy budgets.

Smart City Transport Infrastructure

Traffic management controllers, bus and tram telemetry, and roadside asset monitoring all benefit from the combined CAN, GNSS, and 4G capability in a single compact unit. The dual SIM failover maintains connectivity if a primary network operator loses coverage at a specific location. Geofencing triggers in RutOS can send alerts via SMS or RMS when a mobile asset leaves a defined zone.

Mobile IoT and SCADA on Battery or Solar Power

The sub-3.5 W maximum consumption and 9-57 VDC input make the RUT204 practical for solar-backed remote monitoring enclosures where power budget is constrained. Modbus TCP/RTU and MQTT connect sensors and PLCs. Data to Server pushes readings to Azure IoT Hub or AWS IoT Core over the cellular link. For inbound remote access, a fixed IP SIM removes the carrier-grade NAT constraint and allows direct VPN connection to the device.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the CAN Bus interface on the RUT204 actually do?

The RUT204 includes integrated CAN hardware on the 6-pin terminal block (pins 4 and 6 for CAN H and CAN L; pin 2 and 5 for ground). The current live firmware feature is CAN Gateway, which forwards CAN frames over IP networks – allowing a back-end system to receive raw CAN data from the vehicle or machine over the cellular link. CANopen Client and SAE J1939 Client are listed on Teltonika’s firmware roadmap and are not yet live in the current release. Check the Teltonika RutOS release notes for current status before specifying the RUT204 if J1939 parsing is a requirement.

What SIM card format does the RUT204 use, and does it support eSIM?

The RUT204 uses Mini SIM (2FF) format in two internal slots accessed by removing the front panel. The double stacked tray fits both SIMs in a compact footprint. The hardware specification sheet (datasheet v1.00, 2026-04-29) does not list eSIM capability – confirm with Teltonika or the routerstore.com team before ordering if eSIM is required for your deployment. Standard dynamic IP SIMs and fixed IP SIMs work on this device.

Can the RUT204 be managed remotely via Teltonika RMS?

Yes. The RUT204 supports Teltonika RMS for remote configuration, monitoring, firmware updates, and access. RMS includes zero-touch provisioning, so units can be pre-configured before dispatch and brought online without an engineer on site. RMS operates on a credit model – RMS credits are available from routerstore.com.

What is the PoE input capability of the RUT204?

The RUT204 supports two PoE input modes on the LAN port. Active PoE input is 802.3af Class 0, accepting up to 12.94 W from a standard 802.3af PoE switch or injector. Passive PoE input is over spare pairs at 16-57 VDC – useful where a non-standard passive injector is already in place. The primary 2-pin DC power connector accepts 9-57 VDC. All three power paths are separate options, not simultaneous inputs.

Does the RUT204 support VPN for secure remote access?

Yes. RutOS on the RUT204 includes OpenVPN (client and server, 27 encryption methods), WireGuard (client and server), IPsec with IKEv1 and IKEv2, GRE, L2TP over IPsec, DMVPN Phase 2 and 3, ZeroTier, Tinc, and OpenConnect. For inbound connections without port forwarding, a fixed IP SIM paired with an appropriate VPN configuration is the standard approach. Standard SIM cards sit behind carrier-grade NAT and cannot accept inbound connections directly.

Does the RUT204 have GNSS and how is position data accessed?

Yes. The RUT204 includes a dedicated GNSS receiver supporting GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo and QZSS. Position data is available via the WebUI, SMS, NMEA 0183 stream, TAVL server, and Teltonika RMS. Multiple geofence zones can be configured in RutOS with alerts sent via SMS or RMS when a device enters or leaves a zone. The GNSS antenna connector is a dedicated SMA female on the rear panel, separate from the mobile antenna ports.

Related Products and Further Reading

If you need dual SIM hardware failover without a CAN Bus requirement, the Teltonika RUT series includes models such as the RUT901 and RUT956. For RS232 and RS485 serial without CAN, the RUT956 covers both serial standards alongside 4G and GNSS. For remote management of the RUT204 fleet, Teltonika RMS credits are available directly from routerstore.com. For SIM connectivity, the routerstore.com SIM connectivity range includes fixed IP SIMs for VPN and remote access deployments and IoT data SIMs for machine-to-machine traffic. For 4G antenna upgrades beyond the included stub antennas, see the 4G antennas category – external antennas on short low-loss cable runs consistently outperform stub antennas inside metal enclosures.