diff --git a/rtu/rtu.lua b/rtu/rtu.lua
index 176b37d..8b83bfd 100644
--- a/rtu/rtu.lua
+++ b/rtu/rtu.lua
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 -- #REQUIRES modbus.lua
 -- #REQUIRES ppm.lua
 
+local PROTOCOLS = comms.PROTOCOLS
+local SCADA_MGMT_TYPES = comms.SCADA_MGMT_TYPES
+local RTU_ADVERT_TYPES = comms.RTU_ADVERT_TYPES
+
 function rtu_init()
     local self = {
         discrete_inputs = {},
@@ -130,7 +134,7 @@ function rtu_comms(modem, local_port, server_port)
     -- PRIVATE FUNCTIONS --
 
     local _send = function (protocol, msg)
-        local packet = scada_packet()
+        local packet = comms.scada_packet()
         packet.make(self.seq_num, protocol, msg)
         self.modem.transmit(self.s_port, self.l_port, packet.raw())
         self.seq_num = self.seq_num + 1
@@ -141,7 +145,7 @@ function rtu_comms(modem, local_port, server_port)
     -- parse a MODBUS/SCADA packet
     local parse_packet = function(side, sender, reply_to, message, distance)
         local pkt = nil
-        local s_pkt = scada_packet()
+        local s_pkt = comms.scada_packet()
 
         -- parse packet as generic SCADA packet
         s_pkt.recieve(side, sender, reply_to, message, distance)
@@ -149,13 +153,13 @@ function rtu_comms(modem, local_port, server_port)
         if s_pkt.is_valid() then
             -- get as MODBUS TCP packet
             if s_pkt.protocol() == PROTOCOLS.MODBUS_TCP then
-                local m_pkt = modbus_packet()
+                local m_pkt = modbus.packet()
                 if m_pkt.decode(s_pkt) then
                     pkt = m_pkt.get()
                 end
             -- get as SCADA management packet
             elseif s_pkt.protocol() == PROTOCOLS.SCADA_MGMT then
-                local mgmt_pkt = mgmt_packet()
+                local mgmt_pkt = comms.mgmt_packet()
                 if mgmt_pkt.decode(s_pkt) then
                     pkt = mgmt_packet.get()
                 end
diff --git a/rtu/startup.lua b/rtu/startup.lua
index 6a21753..232cf8f 100644
--- a/rtu/startup.lua
+++ b/rtu/startup.lua
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 os.loadAPI("scada-common/log.lua") 
 os.loadAPI("scada-common/util.lua")
 os.loadAPI("scada-common/ppm.lua")
+os.loadAPI("scada-common/comms.lua")
 os.loadAPI("scada-common/modbus.lua")
 os.loadAPI("scada-common/rsio.lua")
 
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ os.loadAPI("dev/boiler.lua")
 os.loadAPI("dev/imatrix.lua")
 os.loadAPI("dev/turbine.lua")
 
-local RTU_VERSION = "alpha-v0.1.1"
+local RTU_VERSION = "alpha-v0.1.2"
 
 local print = util.print
 local println = util.println
@@ -67,6 +68,8 @@ for reactor_idx = 1, #rtu_redstone do
 
     local capabilities = {}
 
+    log._debug("init> starting redstone RTU I/O linking for reactor " .. rtu_redstone[reactor_idx].for_reactor .. "...")
+
     for i = 1, #io_table do
         local valid = false
         local config = io_table[i]
@@ -81,7 +84,8 @@ for reactor_idx = 1, #rtu_redstone do
         end
 
         if not valid then
-            local message = "init> invalid redstone definition at index " .. i
+            local message = "init> invalid redstone definition at index " .. i .. " in definition block #" .. reactor_idx ..
+                " (for reactor " .. rtu_redstone[reactor_idx].for_reactor .. ")"
             println_ts(message)
             log._warning(message)
         else
@@ -117,6 +121,8 @@ for reactor_idx = 1, #rtu_redstone do
         rtu = rs_rtu,
         modbus_io = modbus.new(rs_rtu)
     })
+
+    log._debug("init> initialized RTU unit #" .. #units .. ": redstone_io (redstone) [1] for reactor " .. rtu_redstone[reactor_idx].for_reactor)
 end
 
 -- mounted peripherals
diff --git a/scada-common/modbus.lua b/scada-common/modbus.lua
index b192cc9..8a4137f 100644
--- a/scada-common/modbus.lua
+++ b/scada-common/modbus.lua
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ function new(rtu_dev)
     }
 end
 
-function modbus_packet()
+function packet()
     local self = {
         frame = nil,
         txn_id = txn_id,