PIC && WiFi suggestions

[jellis00]

I guess it depends on what you need, but ...
I wouldn't mess with xbee-zigbee-newbee or whatever.

Go with Something that gives you Everything, like serial over wifi. Using a COM port redirecter on the PC, it looks like a serial port, but it's wireless.
HTTP server, Network Time access, etc. etc. etc.


MatchPort® b/g
http://www.lantronix.com/device-netw...matchport.html
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Darrel, I am in need of a WiFi module in an embedded microcontroller application I am working on. MatchPoint b/g looks like a good match. However, I don't know what is meant by a "COM port redirecter on the PC". Can you explain?
My application must work as follows so would appreciate your opinion as to whether Match b/g will do all this with a 16F883:
1) 16883 and ultrasonic ranger (which gets its power from I/O pin of 16883) are awakened from sleep every 0.5 secs and ultrasonic ranger is powered up and pulsed for a range measurement (about 80msec). Ranger is checking to see if the range has changed from the previous cycle transmission. Vdd is also being internally checked in 16F883 for low battery. If either condition exists, an interrupt will be sent to the MatchPoint to wake it from sleep mode and then send date/time stamped report (from DS1307 or DS1337 RTC) containing range change and battery status via serial interface (RS232, EUSART, or what?) to MatchPort so it will transmit report via WiFi network to PC.
2) When PC receives date/time stamped report it will check the RTC date/time against the network/PC time. If not synchronized PC tells MatchPoint to send message to 16F883 to re-synch the RTC chip (DS1337 or DS1307) time to network/PC time which is included in message. If synchronized, PC sends ACK report to MatchPoint to advise 16F883 time is still synched.
3) 16F883, ultrasonic ranger, and MatchPoint go back to sleep mode until next 0.5 sec cycle.
4) Repeat 1) thru 3).

I plan on using the AT modem message mode to send serial data messages to/from MatchPort unless you suggest a different messaging technique??? I also don't know whether the EUSART of the 16F883 can be used as the RS232 interface with the MatchPort????

I checked with Lantronix today to see if there was any way to command the MatchPort out of sleep mode by the PC on the network side. I was in hopes to do this to command the MatchPort and 16F883 out of sleep mode when the PC had data for the embedded microcontroller. Answer was no, hence my approach above to keep MatchPort awake until either a synch report, message report or ACK are received back to the 16F883.

From what I see in MatchPort data sheet, 16F883 will not have to mess with WiFi settings or the serial settings which are already programmed into the MatchPort firmware...true??? Lantronix also told me that the PC side can't change any of these settings either since the MatchPort operates basically as a gateway....true???

Would really appreciate your advice on achievability of above with MatchPort or if not what other WiFi device you would suggest.