This paper deals with the real implementation of an event-based control structure for the classical rotary inverted pendulum. The communication between controller and plant is performed through Ethernet (TCP/IP) which leads to a Networked Control System. The bandwidth used by the control loop is reduced, compared with the one that needs a conventional control, by using a threshold-based communication. The values of the thresholds have been determined by means of simulation techniques. The results over the real plant show how this technique can reach a significant reduction of the bandwidth consumed with a negligible worsening of the performance. (C) 2016 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.