CORRECTION TO CODE. Please ignore the code in previous post in favor of this one. Would really appreciate opinion as to whether this test code is telling me the MiniSocket has failed or not.
Code:
'<FL_PIC18F2550>'       ' Set MCU type for FineLine Editor
'**************** Configure MCU and set port registers ********************
DEFINE OSC 48    ' Using 8 MHz crystal
@ __CONFIG    _CONFIG1L, _PLLDIV_2_1L & _CPUDIV_OSC1_PLL2_1L & _USBDIV_2_1L
@ __CONFIG    _CONFIG1H, _FOSC_HSPLL_HS_1H
@ __CONFIG    _CONFIG2H, _WDT_OFF_2H & _WDTPS_512_2H
@ __CONFIG    _CONFIG3H, _PBADEN_OFF_3H & _MCLRE_OFF_3H
@ __CONFIG    _CONFIG4L, _LVP_OFF_4L &_XINST_OFF_4L
TRISA = 0           ' Reserve PortA as outputs for LCD use
TRISB = %00011100   ' RB2 & RB3 reserved as RTC Alarm1 & Alarm2 inputs
                    ' PORTB.2 is also an interrupt from manual switch GND
                    ' PORTB.4 is set as A/D Channel 11 input
TRISC = %10000000   ' Set PortC to all outputs except PortC.7 which is
                    ' reserved as RX input.
                    ' PortC.1 is output for MSEL to WiFi module
                    ' PortC.2 is used for the LCD R/W connection when
                    ' LCD present..otherwise as _RES_PD to Wifi Module.
                    ' PortC.4 is output to LED_RED
                    ' PortC.5 is output to LED_GRN
'********************* Declare Variables and Aliases **********************
WRITE 2,2      'EEPROM test to see if program executes to here..it does
    I        VAR BYTE         ' For-Next Loop index
    LED_RED  VAR PortC.4      ' Red LED
    LED_GRN  VAR PortC.5      ' Green LED used to indicate Routine entries
    MSEL     VAR PORTC.1      ' iChip Mode Select
    _RES_PD  VAR PORTC.2      ' iCHIP RESET/Power-Down
    TX       VAR PORTC.6      ' ports used for WiFi module serial interface
    RX       VAR PORTC.7
    'X_TEMP   VAR BYTE        'not used in new temperature routine
WRITE 3,3  'EEPROM test to see if program executes to here..it does
    PAUSE 2000   'FOR SOME REASON PROGRAM DOESN'T EXECUTE PAST HERE IF STATEMENT IS UNCOMMENTED
WRITE 4,4  'EEPROM test to see if program executes to here..it doesn't if above statement uncommented!
      ' Blink LED_GRN 2X times to indicate iChip test started
           FOR I = 0 TO 1
           WRITE 5,5   'EEPROM test to see if program executes to here..it does
               HIGH LED_GRN
               PAUSE 500
               LOW LED_GRN
               PAUSE 500
           NEXT

'***************** SETUP FOR USING iWiFi MiniSocket Module ***************
BOOT:   'iCHIP SET UP
  HIGH _RES_PD     ' Set high for normal ops
  PAUSE 500        ' Delay to stabilize coming out of power down mode
  LOW MSEL         ' Exit SERIALNET mode and return iChip to normal AT+i mode
  WRITE 6,6   'EEPROM test to see if program executes to here..it does
  PAUSE 10000
  HIGH MSEL        ' Set high for normal AT+i ops
  PAUSE 500
  SEROUT2 TX,16390,[ "AT+iFD",$d ,$a]   ' Reset iChip to factory defaults
  SERIN2 RX ,16390,2500,BROKE,[ WAIT("I/OK")]
WRITE 7,7   'EEPROM test to see if program executes to here..it doesn't!
     ' ABOVE TEST INDICATES Interface to iChip is NOT working!
END
BROKE:
        WRITE 16, "B"     'Record in EEPROM as test shows iChip broke
WRITE 8,8   'EEPROM test to see if program executes to here..it doesn't!
        ' Blink LED_RED 2X times to indicate iChip not working
           FOR I = 0 TO 1
               HIGH LED_RED
               PAUSE 500
               LOW LED_RED
               PAUSE 500
           NEXT
        GOTO BOOT