user78396: I know this module is super old but the network I am on still uses GPRS so should work.
This is the module:

I am using the Adafruit example scipt FONAtest. I can connect to GPRS
    <--- SHUT OK
    ---> AT+CGATT=1
    <--- OK
    ---> AT+SAPBR=3,1,"CONTYPE","GPRS"
    <--- OK
    ---> AT+SAPBR=3,1,"APN","live.vodafone.com"
    <--- OK
    ---> AT+CSTT="live.vodafone.com","",""
    <--- OK
    ---> AT+SAPBR=3,1,"USER",""
    <--- OK
    ---> AT+SAPBR=3,1,"PWD",""
    <--- OK
    ---> AT+SAPBR=1,1
    <--- OK
    ---> AT+CIICR
    <--- OK
FONA>

There is credit on the SIM so it has data for sure, I can also send SMS.
There are several different approaches people seem to take (altering AT commands) to persuade this device to work, pretty sure I have tried all of them :) I always get a timeout when trying to read or GET a webpage.
I have tried several combinations via terminal and I seem to connect ok but get no further. It has worked once, but that was in a different part of town.
How do I check that the GPRS is actually connected? Any troubleshooting tips?
There is a dedicated 2A 5V connected to the unit, it isn't dropping out AFAIK. Do you have a rock-solid AT sequence that always works?
Also, there seem to be SAPBR commands that don't work at all, not sure why?

user23644: It highly depends on the URL you are trying to fetch.
Those modules DO NOT understand secure HTTP/S. They only understand plain unsecure HTTP.
Most web pages nowdays don't offer unsecure HTTP access and always redirect the request to a HTTP/S server. So in my opinion the usefulness of those devices is very limited when it comes to internet access.
If you have full control over the web server you should disable the enforcement of a secure connection.
Beyond that. The sequence you posted is just for activating GPRS.
I also found the FONA sample for fetching a page not very reliable but I was able to request the page multiple time. Perheps you have your module in a place with low signal strenght. Does your module offer an u.fl connector for a better antenna?

user78396: Don't know why, I had to manually set the DNS t0 8.8.8.8 using AT+CDNSCFG?
It had DNS entries in there but they didn't want to resolve for some reason.

78396: <p>I know this module is super old but the network I am on still uses GPRS so should work.</p>
<p>This is the module:
<a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/Q2VMR.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/Q2VMR.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a>
I am using the Adafruit example scipt FONAtest. I can connect to GPRS</p>
<pre><code>    &lt;--- SHUT OK
    ---&gt; AT+CGATT=1
    &lt;--- OK
    ---&gt; AT+SAPBR=3,1,&quot;CONTYPE&quot;,&quot;GPRS&quot;
    &lt;--- OK
    ---&gt; AT+SAPBR=3,1,&quot;APN&quot;,&quot;live.vodafone.com&quot;
    &lt;--- OK
    ---&gt; AT+CSTT=&quot;live.vodafone.com&quot;,&quot;&quot;,&quot;&quot;
    &lt;--- OK
    ---&gt; AT+SAPBR=3,1,&quot;USER&quot;,&quot;&quot;
    &lt;--- OK
    ---&gt; AT+SAPBR=3,1,&quot;PWD&quot;,&quot;&quot;
    &lt;--- OK
    ---&gt; AT+SAPBR=1,1
    &lt;--- OK
    ---&gt; AT+CIICR
    &lt;--- OK
FONA&gt;
</code></pre>
<p>There is credit on the SIM so it has data for sure, I can also send SMS.</p>
<p>There are several different approaches people seem to take (altering AT commands) to persuade this device to work, pretty sure I have tried all of them :) I always get a timeout when trying to read or GET a webpage.</p>
<p>I have tried several combinations via terminal and I seem to connect ok but get no further. It has worked once, but that was in a different part of town.</p>
<p>How do I check that the GPRS is actually connected? Any troubleshooting tips?</p>
<p>There is a dedicated 2A 5V connected to the unit, it isn't dropping out AFAIK. Do you have a rock-solid AT sequence that always works?</p>
<p>Also, there seem to be SAPBR commands that don't work at all, not sure why?</p>
 23644: <p>It highly depends on the URL you are trying to fetch.<br />
Those modules DO NOT understand secure HTTP/S. They only understand plain unsecure HTTP.<br />
Most web pages nowdays don't offer unsecure HTTP access and always redirect the request to a HTTP/S server. So in my opinion the usefulness of those devices is very limited when it comes to internet access.</p>
<p>If you have full control over the web server you should disable the enforcement of a secure connection.</p>
<p>Beyond that. The sequence you posted is just for activating GPRS.</p>
<p>I also found the FONA sample for fetching a page not very reliable but I was able to request the page multiple time. Perheps you have your module in a place with low signal strenght. Does your module offer an u.fl connector for a better antenna?</p>
 78396: <p>Don't know why, I had to manually set the DNS t0 8.8.8.8 using <code>AT+CDNSCFG?</code></p>
<p>It had DNS entries in there but they didn't want to resolve for some reason.</p>
