# Adafruit FONA 808 Cellular + GPS Shield for Arduino ## Overview ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/026/555/medium800/adafruit_products_2636_iso_ORIG.jpg?1437157485) Cellular + GPS tracking, all in one, for your Arduino? Oh yes! Introducing Adafruit FONA 808 GSM + GPS Shield, an all-in-one cellular phone module with that lets you add location-tracking, voice, text, SMS and data to your project, in Arduino shield format for easy use. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/026/552/medium800/adafruit_products_2636-05.jpg?1437157277) This shield fits right over your Arduino or compatible. At the heart is a powerful GSM cellular module (we use the latest SIM808) with integrated GPS. This module can do just about everything - Quad-band 850/900/1800/1900MHz - connect onto any global GSM network with any 2G SIM (in the USA, T-Mobile is suggested) - Fully-integrated GPS ([MT3336 chipset](http://www.mediatek.com/en/products/connectivity/gps/mt3336/) with -165 dBm tracking sensitivity) that can be controlled and query over the same serial port - Make and receive voice calls using a headset or an external 32Ω speaker + electret microphone - Send and receive SMS messages - Send and receive GPRS data (TCP/IP, HTTP, etc.) - PWM/Buzzer vibrational motor control - AT command interface with "auto baud" detection Here's the GPS specifications: - 22 tracking /66 acquisition channels - GPS L1 C/A code - Sensitivity Tracking: -165 dBm Cold starts : -147 dBm - Time-To-First-Fix Cold starts: 30s (typ.) Hot starts: 1s (typ.) Warm starts: 28s (typ.) - Accuracy: approx 2.5 meters ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/026/553/medium800/adafruit_products_2636_kit_ORIG.jpg?1437157305) Sounds delicious, right? So we plated this fine module onto a shield with all the extras you need to make your next project shine - Onboard LiPoly battery charging circuitry so you can take your project on the go. [Use any 500mAh+ LiPoly or LiIon battery](http://www.adafruit.com/product/1578) and recharge via the Arduino when necessary. Two LEDs let you know when its charging and done. You can then flip the switch and use the battery to run your circuit! - [Standard 4-pole TRRS headphone jack. Use any 'Android' or 'iPhone'-compatible headset with mic](http://www.adafruit.com/product/1966) - Breakouts for external 32Ω speaker and [electret mic](http://www.adafruit.com/product/1935) if you don't want to use a headphone - Level shifting circuitry to make it Arduino-safe - [Vibrational motor (buzzer)](http://www.adafruit.com/product/1201) driver so you can have noiseless notifications - uFL connection for [external passive GPS](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2461) & [external GSM antenna](http://www.adafruit.com/product/1991) - Indicator LEDs for power and network connectivity - [Any standard 2G SIM slides into a secure connector](http://www.adafruit.com/product/2505) ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/026/556/medium800/adafruit_products_2636_top_demo_ORIG.jpg?1437157767) On its own, this shield can't do anything. It requires a microcontroller like an Arduino to drive it!  You will also need some required accessories to make FONA work. **These are not included!** - **SIM Card!** A 2G Mini SIM card is required to do anything on the cellular network. US AT&T no longer sells 2G SIMs and will shut off their 2G network, so [for American customers we recommend any T-Mobile or reseller (TING, SIMPLE mobile, etc) that uses the T-Mobile network.](http://www.adafruit.com/product/2505) - **Lipoly Battery** - 500mAh or larger! This [500mAh](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1578)battery, [or this 1200mAh](https://www.adafruit.com/products/258) will work great. - **External GSM Antenna** - [This slim uFL antenna works great!](http://www.adafruit.com/product/1991) - **External Passive GPS Antenna** - [This 15mm passive antenna works great!](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2461) ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/026/557/medium800/adafruit_products_2636_quarter_ORIG.jpg?1437157808) Each order comes with one tested and assembled FONA shield and a stick of 0.1" male header. **Required Arduino, SIM card, battery, antenna and other accessories are not included! Some light soldering is required to put the headers onto the shield**. [You can also grab some stacking headers if you would like to stack a shield on top](https://www.adafruit.com/product/85) There's also some recommended accessories. They are not required but chances are you'll want them! - **TRRS 4-Pole Headset** - [Any 'iPhone' or 'Android' compatible (but not iPhone original) should work. We tried about 10 different ones, and basically the more expensive once are more comfortable and louder but our official iPhone headset mic did not work.](http://www.adafruit.com/product/1966) - **External Mic & Speaker** - If you want to talk directly to your FONA, [an electret mic](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1064) and [mini 8 ohm speaker](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1890) will do quite nicely. - **Vibrating motor** - the FONA can drive this directly, [just solder a mini vibrating motor disc in!](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1201) - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-fona-808-cellular-plus-gps-shield-for-arduino/pinouts.md) ## Featured Products ### Adafruit FONA 808 Shield - Mini Cellular GSM + GPS for Arduino [Adafruit FONA 808 Shield - Mini Cellular GSM + GPS for Arduino](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2636) Cellular + GPS tracking, all in one, for your Arduino? Oh yes! Introducing Adafruit FONA 808 GSM + GPS Shield, an all-in-one cellular phone module with that lets you add location-tracking, voice, text, SMS and data to your project, in Arduino shield format for easy use. **Please...** No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2636) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2636/guides) ### Shield stacking headers for Arduino (R3 Compatible) [Shield stacking headers for Arduino (R3 Compatible)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/85) _“How could something so simple be so useful?” _ We heard once that in the 4th millennium B.C. some guy asked the person who invented the wheel that question.  The person who invented the wheel’s answer, we were told, was... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/85) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/85/guides) ### Slim Sticker-type GSM/Cellular Quad-Band Antenna - 3dBi uFL [Slim Sticker-type GSM/Cellular Quad-Band Antenna - 3dBi uFL](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1991) That's one slim cellular antenna! At just 75mm long from tip to tip and and with a thickness of just 2mm, this 3dBi GSM antenna is slim, compact and sensitive, with a 3dBi gain.  The antenna juts out from its base with stick-on back so you attach it to an enclosure if... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1991) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1991/guides) ### GSM SIM Card from Ting & Adafruit - Data/Voice/Text [GSM SIM Card from Ting & Adafruit - Data/Voice/Text](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2505) Adafruit is now a phone company :)  Or, well, we've sold [DIY cell phones](https://www.adafruit.com/categories/281) for awhile now but you've never been able to buy your [FONA](https://www.adafruit.com/fona) and a SIM Card all in one place.  Now,... No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2505) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2505/guides) ### Passive GPS Antenna uFL - 15mm x 15mm 1 dBi gain [Passive GPS Antenna uFL - 15mm x 15mm 1 dBi gain](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2461) Wow that's a tiny GPS antenna! This passive antenna is only 15mm x 15mm x 6.8mm in size, with a 50mm long uFL cable. Great for when you want to keep things small. Comes with a standard uFL connector on the end. [Perfect for our FONA...](https://www.adafruit.com/products/2542) In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2461) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2461/guides) ### Passive GPS Antenna uFL - 9mm x 9mm -2dBi gain [Passive GPS Antenna uFL - 9mm x 9mm -2dBi gain](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2460) Wow that's a tiny GPS antenna! This passive antenna is only 9mm x 9mm x 6.5mm in size, with a 50mm long uFL cable. Great for when you want to keep things small. Comes with a standard uFL connector on the end. [Perfect for our FONA...](https://www.adafruit.com/products/2542) In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2460) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2460/guides) ### SMA to uFL/u.FL/IPX/IPEX RF Adapter Cable [SMA to uFL/u.FL/IPX/IPEX RF Adapter Cable](https://www.adafruit.com/product/851) This RF adapter cable is super handy for anyone doing RF work. Often times, small electronics save space by having a pick-and-placeable u.FL connector (also called uFL, IPEX, IPAX, IPX, MHF, and AM). But most antennas have SMA or RP-SMA connectors on them. This little cable will bridge the... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/851) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/851/guides) ### Right-angle Mini GSM/Cellular Quad-Band Antenna - 2dBi SMA Plug [Right-angle Mini GSM/Cellular Quad-Band Antenna - 2dBi SMA Plug](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1858) This 2.2"/57mm long antenna has 2dBi of gain and 50Ω impedance so it will work fantastically with just about any 850/900/1800/1900/2100 wireless receiver/transmitter such as any Cellular or GSM/GPRS device. Antenna comes with a **Right-angle** SMA connector.... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1858) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1858/guides) ## Related Guides - [Adafruit 2.8" PiTFT - Capacitive Touch](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-2-8-pitft-capacitive-touch.md) - [MCP4725 12-Bit DAC Tutorial](https://learn.adafruit.com/mcp4725-12-bit-dac-tutorial.md) - [Adafruit AS7341 10-Channel Light / Color Sensor Breakout](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-as7341-10-channel-light-color-sensor-breakout.md) - [Adafruit Feather M0 WiFi with ATWINC1500](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-feather-m0-wifi-atwinc1500.md) - [Adafruit Radio Bonnets with OLED Display - RFM69 or RFM9X](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-radio-bonnets.md) - [Adafruit Terminal Block BFF](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-terminal-block-bff.md) - [Adafruit DVI Sock for Pico](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-dvi-sock-for-pico.md) - [Adafruit BMP280 Barometric Pressure + Temperature Sensor Breakout](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-bmp280-barometric-pressure-plus-temperature-sensor-breakout.md) - [Adafruit MPRLS Ported Pressure Sensor Breakout](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-mprls-ported-pressure-sensor-breakout.md) - [Introducing Adafruit Trellis ](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-trellis-diy-open-source-led-keypad.md) - [Adafruit MicroSD SPI or SDIO Card Breakout Board](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-microsd-spi-sdio.md) - [Adafruit Mini TFT with Joystick Featherwing](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-mini-tft-featherwing.md) - [Adafruit RGB Matrix Bonnet for Raspberry Pi](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-rgb-matrix-bonnet-for-raspberry-pi.md) - [Adafruit 1.3" Color TFT Bonnet for Raspberry Pi](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-1-3-color-tft-bonnet-for-raspberry-pi.md) - [Adafruit MicroLipo and MiniLipo Battery Chargers](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-microlipo-and-minilipo-battery-chargers.md)