Long desired operation - PIC + Wifi. Help please

[Tina10]

I have desired for long enough now to do some small project which involves operation through wifi. Having no knowledge of internet protocols, I always gave up on this before, but time has come that I strongly want to do it and I need all the help and guidance I can need. I want to know from where to start. I just want to be able to glow an led connected to my PIC which I want to connect to my existing wifi network at home and be able to do this using my iphone or anaroid phone. Any pointers as to what is already out there in the market which can teach me a thing or two about this mysterious wifi based operation.
Thanks a lot in advance :)

[Demon]

Look at the similar threads listed at the bottom, there are already several threads about PIC-WIFI. Here's one:

http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=10074

SEARCH is your friend.

Robert

[Tina10]

Thanks. It would be easier for me if I know what to look for. Is it wifi to serial? Before I go there, do these modules have their own wifi ID which I should connect to to talk my PIC OR they can connect to my wifi network? How is that accomplished? What features I should look for apart from serial capability? Using these modules, can I talk to my PIC from anywhere or only when I am connected to the same wifi network? Will my PIC also be able to send data over wifi to the outside world? I have many questions of these types which may be simple for someone who knows but challenging for me at this stage.

[mackrackit]

http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=14912

I can only talk about the Connect One modules. The wifi module will connect to your access point just as a PC does. Configure it to look for the SSID and give it the passkey.

I have not used these very much to talk to the MCU from the net but they do have a function called Serial Net for this.
http://www.connectone.com/?page_id=310

You can use these as a web page server, small, but they only work on port 80. This may have changed though. If I recall correctly, the Serial Net mode can use other ports.

They work very well for sending data via email or FTP.

[Tina10]

thanks. I read about connect one modules mentioned above. I also came across MRF24WB0MA which seems quiet cost effective. Any Idea if this would be fit to start with?

[mackrackit]

If you are comfortable with SPI then the MRF24WB0MA looks good.

[Darrel Taylor]

The MRF24WB0MA is just a radio with hardware encryption built-in.
It does not have a TCP/IP stack.
You have to implement the TCP/IP stack in your program.

The TCP/IP stack is only available in the C language.
It is not available in PBP.

If you are just starting out, the MRF24WB0MA would be your worst choice.

[dhouston]

You might look at Roving Network's devices. Microchip bought them about 8-9 months back. Their modules are very cost effective.
http://www.rovingnetworks.com/products/Wi_Fi_Modules

[HenrikOlsson]

Hi,
The MRF24WB0 has a companion chip called MCW1001 (http://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/Devices.aspx?dDocName=en555844) which has the TCP/IP stack built in and does the "heavy lifting". MikroE has their Wifi Plus (http://www.mikroe.com/click/wifi-plus/) module which is a module with these two parts. I've had one for a while but haven't got around to try it out yet. The Roving Network modules looks really nice too and most of them are cheaper than the Wifi Plus so I don't know....

/Henrik.