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Now lets get this party started!

OK, now we are ready to go into details on how to make an internet connection from the PIC18F450. This sounds fun!
We need some login information that enables us to access the internet. This is called by the network provider “internet settings” , “internet setting file” or something like that. For example if you bought a brand new Nokia phone, and when you insert the SIM card into it, some providers sends the internet settings as soon as they detect that this phone is for the first time to be connected to there network (they do that by IMEI). Other providers, you have to call the customer service so that they send you the internet settings. So, we really need to know the contents of the internet setting file that the provider send so that we can know: APN, username and password.

Before going into details, the first thing that you must do, is call the customer service from the SIM that you are going to use from any cellular phone, and ask them if SIM is GPRS enables or not. Because some providers are not default enabled, so you need to call them first.

What is APN?
It stands for Access Point Name. This name gives you a gateway rout to the network that you want to connect to like WAP or internet or VPN. The question now is how am I going to get the APN of my network provider?

Two ways to get the APN:

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There are different test boards that you can find online, but some of them can cost as low as $93 and others can go as €500 (that is right Euros which is equivalent to $716) per board. Of course if you are rich enough you will go and buy the $716 board, which I really don’t recommend at all. Why?? Lets see:

1-EasyGSM/GPRS GM862 from mikroElektronika (cost: $93) Click Here

Believe me, it is not as easy as it is named. When you start to work with it for the first time you will find some difficulties that faced me for a month to get it up working. But to tell you the truth this by far the best board for the module to work on, because you will get to do everything by your hand except the connector of the Telit Module (50 Pins) which is surface mounted on the board. So if you do know how to solder surface mounted components and you do know how to make PCBs then go ahead and just only buy the module with the antenna and the connector and do the board yourself. Something to mention, Mikroelektronika sells the Telit module ONLY (without the board) with a very low price ($69 each) compared to other companies that told me that the sell it for $60.5 if I got a 1000 piece

0911_Modules_Accessories from Telic GmbH (Euros)

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