diff --git a/basic_machines/distributor.lua b/basic_machines/distributor.lua
index cef664e..3db44c3 100644
--- a/basic_machines/distributor.lua
+++ b/basic_machines/distributor.lua
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ local STANDBY_TICKS = 3
 local COUNTDOWN_TICKS = 4
 local CYCLE_TIME = 4
 
-local INFO = [[Turn port on/off: command = 'port', payload = red/green/blue/yellow=on/off]]
+local INFO = [[Turn port on/off or read its state: command = 'port', payload = red/green/blue/yellow{=on/off}]]
 
 
 --local Side2Color = {B="red", L="green", F="blue", R="yellow"}
@@ -374,6 +374,13 @@ local function change_filter_settings(pos, slot, val)
 	return true
 end
 
+-- techage command to read filter channel status (on/off)
+local function read_filter_settings(pos, slot)
+	local slots = {["red"] = 1, ["green"] = 2, ["blue"] = 3, ["yellow"] = 4}
+	local filter = minetest.deserialize(M(pos):get_string("filter"))
+	return filter[slots[slot]] and "on" or "off"
+end
+
 local function can_dig(pos, player)
 	if minetest.is_protected(pos, player:get_player_name()) then
 		return false
@@ -437,7 +444,11 @@ local tubing = {
 		elseif topic == "port" then
 			-- "red"/"green"/"blue"/"yellow" = "on"/"off"
 			local slot, val = techage.ident_value(payload)
-			return change_filter_settings(pos, slot, val)
+			if val == "" then
+				return read_filter_settings(pos, slot)
+			else
+				return change_filter_settings(pos, slot, val)
+			end
 		else		
 			return CRD(pos).State:on_receive_message(pos, topic, payload)
 		end
diff --git a/icta_controller/commands.lua b/icta_controller/commands.lua
index f2bab58..feb9cd0 100644
--- a/icta_controller/commands.lua
+++ b/icta_controller/commands.lua
@@ -744,3 +744,52 @@ techage.icta_register_action("set_filter", {
 		end
 	end,
 })
+
+techage.icta_register_condition("get_filter", {
+	title = "read state of a Distributor filter slot",
+	formspec = {
+		{
+			type = "number",
+			name = "number",
+			label = "distri number",
+			default = "",
+		},
+		{
+			type = "textlist",
+			name = "color",
+			label = "filter port",
+			choices = "red,green,blue,yellow",
+			default = "red",
+		},
+		{
+			type = "textlist",
+			name = "operand",
+			choices = "is,is not",
+			default = "is",
+		},
+		{
+			type = "textlist",
+			name = "value",
+			label = "state",
+			choices = "on,off",
+			default = "off",
+		},
+		{
+			type = "label",
+			name = "lbl",
+			label = "Read state of a Distributor filter slot.\n",
+		},
+	},
+	button = function(data, environ)  -- default button label
+		return 'fltr('..techage.fmt_number(data.number)..","..data.color..' '..data.operand..' '..data.value..')'
+	end,
+	code = function(data, environ)
+		local condition = function(env, idx)
+			return techage.send_single(environ.number, data.number, "port", data.color)
+		end
+		local result = function(val)
+			return techage.compare(val, data.value, data.operand)
+		end
+		return condition, result
+	end,
+})
diff --git a/lua_controller/commands.lua b/lua_controller/commands.lua
index ccb67f3..db1ed3f 100644
--- a/lua_controller/commands.lua
+++ b/lua_controller/commands.lua
@@ -105,6 +105,19 @@ techage.lua_ctlr.register_action("set_filter", {
 		' example: $set_filter("1234", "red", "off")'
 })
 
+techage.lua_ctlr.register_action("get_filter", {
+	cmnd = function(self, num, slot)
+		num = tostring(num or "")
+		slot = tostring(slot or "red")
+		if not_protected(self.meta.owner, num) then
+			return techage.send_single(self.meta.number, num, "port", slot)
+		end
+	end,
+	help = " $get_filter(num, slot)\n"..
+		' Read state of a Distributor filter slot.\n'..
+		' Return value is "on" or "off".\n'..
+		' example: state = $get_filter("1234", "red")'
+})
 
 techage.lua_ctlr.register_action("display", {
 	cmnd = function(self, num, row, text)