diff --git a/plugins/inputs/net_response/README.md b/plugins/inputs/net_response/README.md
index 1d075d1a1..e3836721c 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/net_response/README.md
+++ b/plugins/inputs/net_response/README.md
@@ -6,6 +6,27 @@ It can also check response text.
 ### Configuration:
 
 ```
+[[inputs.net_response]]
+  ## Protocol, must be "tcp" or "udp"
+  ## NOTE: because the "udp" protocol does not respond to requests, it requires
+  ## a send/expect string pair (see below).
+  protocol = "tcp"
+  ## Server address (default localhost)
+  address = "localhost:80"
+  ## Set timeout
+  timeout = "1s"
+
+  ## Set read timeout (only used if expecting a response)
+  read_timeout = "1s"
+
+  ## The following options are required for UDP checks. For TCP, they are
+  ## optional. The plugin will send the given string to the server and then
+  ## expect to receive the given 'expect' string back.
+  ## string sent to the server
+  # send = "ssh"
+  ## expected string in answer
+  # expect = "ssh"
+
 [[inputs.net_response]]
   protocol = "tcp"
   address = ":80"
@@ -30,6 +51,8 @@ It can also check response text.
   protocol = "udp"
   address = "localhost:161"
   timeout = "2s"
+  send = "hello server"
+  expect = "hello client"
 ```
 
 ### Measurements & Fields:
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/net_response/net_response.go b/plugins/inputs/net_response/net_response.go
index 15725ff27..ad0de46c3 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/net_response/net_response.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/net_response/net_response.go
@@ -29,18 +29,24 @@ func (_ *NetResponse) Description() string {
 
 var sampleConfig = `
   ## Protocol, must be "tcp" or "udp"
+  ## NOTE: because the "udp" protocol does not respond to requests, it requires
+  ## a send/expect string pair (see below).
   protocol = "tcp"
   ## Server address (default localhost)
-  address = "github.com:80"
+  address = "localhost:80"
   ## Set timeout
   timeout = "1s"
 
-  ## Optional string sent to the server
-  # send = "ssh"
-  ## Optional expected string in answer
-  # expect = "ssh"
   ## Set read timeout (only used if expecting a response)
   read_timeout = "1s"
+
+  ## The following options are required for UDP checks. For TCP, they are
+  ## optional. The plugin will send the given string to the server and then
+  ## expect to receive the given 'expect' string back.
+  ## string sent to the server
+  # send = "ssh"
+  ## expected string in answer
+  # expect = "ssh"
 `
 
 func (_ *NetResponse) SampleConfig() string {