# Textable Sensor with FONA and CircuitPython
## Overview
_How humid is my apartment right now? _ **Let me text my FONA!**
While smart-home applications like as Apple's HomeKit are great - they use a large amount of cellular data and take time to load information you may not care about. Instead of using a WiFi connection, an Adafruit FONA cellular module lets you **obtain sensor readings from anywhere with cell reception**.
**In this guide, you will build a text-able environmental monitor** using the Adafruit FONA shield, a Metro M0/M4 development board and a Bosch BME280 precision sensor. Using CircuitPython, the Feather can send and receive SMS messages using the [CircuitPython FONA library](https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_CircuitPython_FONA) and read environmental data from the BME280 sensor with the [CircuitPython BME280 library](https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_CircuitPython_BME280).
## Code with CircuitPython
CircuitPython is the easiest way to program an Internet of Things project. We've built [a helper library, Adafruit\_CircuitPython\_FONA,](https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_CircuitPython_FONA) to make interfacing with the FONA module's SMS capabilities incredibly simple.
## Adafruit FONA
The [Adafruit FONA](http://adafruit.com/fona) is an all-in-one cellular phone module that lets you add voice, cellar data, location-tracking (FONA-808 and FONA-3G only) and SMS to your project. The FONA shields fit right over shield-compatible CircuitPython boards.
## Parts
On its own, this shield can't do anything. It requires a microcontroller like a Metro M4 or Metro M0 to drive it!
### Adafruit Metro M4 feat. Microchip ATSAMD51
[Adafruit Metro M4 feat. Microchip ATSAMD51](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3382)
Are you ready? Really ready? Cause here comes the fastest, most powerful Metro ever. The **Adafruit Metro M4** featuring the **Microchip ATSAMD51**. This Metro is like a bullet train, with its 120MHz Cortex M4 with floating point support. Your code will zig and zag...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3382)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3382/guides)
### Adafruit METRO M0 Express - designed for CircuitPython
[Adafruit METRO M0 Express - designed for CircuitPython](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3505)
Metro is our series of microcontroller boards for use with the Arduino IDE. This new **Metro M0 Express** board looks a whole lot like our [original Metro 328](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2488), but with a huge upgrade. Instead of the ATmega328, this Metro...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3505)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3505/guides)
The Bosch BME280 precision sensor can measure humidity with ±3% accuracy, barometric pressure with ±1 hPa absolute accuracy, and temperature with ±1.0°C accuracy.
### Adafruit BME280 I2C or SPI Temperature Humidity Pressure Sensor
[Adafruit BME280 I2C or SPI Temperature Humidity Pressure Sensor](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2652)
Bosch has stepped up their game with their new BME280 sensor, an environmental sensor with temperature, barometric pressure and humidity! This sensor is great for all sorts of indoor environmental sensing and can even be used in both I2C and SPI!
This precision sensor from...
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2652)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2652/guides)
You will also need some required accessories to make the FONA work. **These are not included with the FONA shield or breakout!**
**You will need** a Mini SIM card to do anything on the cellular network.
If you're in the USA, we suggest picking up the 2G SIM Card from Ting.
- If you're not in the US, or want to use a different cellular network provider, [please see this page for more information about obtaining a FONA-compatible SIM card.](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-fona-808-cellular-plus-gps-breakout/obtaining-a-sim)
**You will need** a LiPoly battery (500mAh or larger) to run the FONA module.
### Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7v 500mAh
[Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7v 500mAh](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1578)
Lithium-ion polymer (also known as 'lipo' or 'lipoly') batteries are thin, light, and powerful. The output ranges from 4.2V when completely charged to 3.7V. This battery has a capacity of 500mAh for a total of about 1.9 Wh. If you need a larger (or smaller!) battery,
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1578)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1578/guides)
### Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7v 1200mAh
[Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7v 1200mAh](https://www.adafruit.com/product/258)
Lithium-ion polymer (also known as 'lipo' or 'lipoly') batteries are thin, light, and powerful. The output ranges from 4.2V when completely charged to 3.7V. This battery has a capacity of 1200mAh for a total of about 4.5 Wh. If you need a larger battery,
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/258)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/258/guides)
**You will need** a external uFL GSM Antenna, we like this slim sticker-type antenna:
### 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)
If you want to use a SMA antenna instead, you'll want to pick up a uFL to SMA adapter cable.
### Part: uFL to SMA Adapter Cable
quantity: 1
SMA to uFL/u.FL/IPX/IPEX RF Adapter Cable
[uFL to SMA Adapter Cable](https://www.adafruit.com/product/851)
## Materials
The supplies listed below are both helpful and necessary for completing this project.
### Part: MicroUSB Cable
quantity: 1
USB cable - USB A to Micro-B - 3 foot long
[MicroUSB Cable](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592)
### Part: Shield Stacking Headers
quantity: 1
Shield stacking headers for Arduino (R3 Compatible)
[Shield Stacking Headers](https://www.adafruit.com/product/85)
- [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/textable-sensor-with-fona-and-circuitpython/assembly.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)
### Adafruit FONA 800 Shield - Voice/Data Cellular GSM for Arduino
[Adafruit FONA 800 Shield - Voice/Data Cellular GSM for Arduino](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2468)
Ring, Ring! Who's that callin'? It's your Arduino! Introducing Adafruit FONA 800 Shield, an adorable all-in-one cellular phone shield that lets you add voice, text, SMS and data to your project in an easy to use pluggable shield.
This shield fits on top of any classic Arduino...
No Longer Stocked
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2468)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2468/guides)
### Adafruit FONA 800 Breakout Board Starter Pack - SMA Version
[Adafruit FONA 800 Breakout Board Starter Pack - SMA Version](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2522)
Build your own cellular project and get off the grid with FONA. This pack comes with an SMA-antenna type FONA and paired with hand-picked accessories. It's the **Adafruit FONA - SMA Starter Pack**.
The FONA miniGSM is an adorable all-in-one cellular phone module...
No Longer Stocked
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2522)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2522/guides)
### Adafruit Metro M4 feat. Microchip ATSAMD51
[Adafruit Metro M4 feat. Microchip ATSAMD51](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3382)
Are you ready? Really ready? Cause here comes the fastest, most powerful Metro ever. The **Adafruit Metro M4** featuring the **Microchip ATSAMD51**. This Metro is like a bullet train, with its 120MHz Cortex M4 with floating point support. Your code will zig and zag...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3382)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3382/guides)
### Adafruit METRO M0 Express - designed for CircuitPython
[Adafruit METRO M0 Express - designed for CircuitPython](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3505)
Metro is our series of microcontroller boards for use with the Arduino IDE. This new **Metro M0 Express** board looks a whole lot like our [original Metro 328](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2488), but with a huge upgrade. Instead of the ATmega328, this Metro...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3505)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3505/guides)
### Adafruit BME280 I2C or SPI Temperature Humidity Pressure Sensor
[Adafruit BME280 I2C or SPI Temperature Humidity Pressure Sensor](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2652)
Bosch has stepped up their game with their new BME280 sensor, an environmental sensor with temperature, barometric pressure and humidity! This sensor is great for all sorts of indoor environmental sensing and can even be used in both I2C and SPI!
This precision sensor from...
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2652)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2652/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)
### Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7v 500mAh
[Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7v 500mAh](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1578)
Lithium-ion polymer (also known as 'lipo' or 'lipoly') batteries are thin, light, and powerful. The output ranges from 4.2V when completely charged to 3.7V. This battery has a capacity of 500mAh for a total of about 1.9 Wh. If you need a larger (or smaller!) battery,
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1578)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1578/guides)
## Related Guides
- [Adafruit Metro M0 Express](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-metro-m0-express.md)
- [Adafruit Metro M4 Express featuring ATSAMD51](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-metro-m4-express-featuring-atsamd51.md)
- [Which CircuitPython Board is Right for You?](https://learn.adafruit.com/choose-your-circuitpython-board.md)
- [Air Quality Sensor 3D Printed Enclosure](https://learn.adafruit.com/air-quality-sensor-silo-house.md)
- [Ethernet for CircuitPython with Wiznet5K](https://learn.adafruit.com/ethernet-for-circuitpython.md)
- [PyPortal IoT Weather Station](https://learn.adafruit.com/pyportal-iot-weather-station.md)
- [CircuitPython I2C and SPI Under the Hood](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-basics-i2c-and-spi.md)
- [CircuitPython Hardware: SD Cards](https://learn.adafruit.com/micropython-hardware-sd-cards.md)
- [Creating and sharing a CircuitPython library](https://learn.adafruit.com/creating-and-sharing-a-circuitpython-library.md)
- [Adafruit NeoPXL8 FeatherWing and Library](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-neopxl8-featherwing-and-library.md)
- [Multi-Sensor IoT Environmental Sensor Box With CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/remote-iot-environmental-sensor.md)
- [CircuitPython Hardware: LED Backpacks & FeatherWings](https://learn.adafruit.com/micropython-hardware-led-backpacks-and-featherwings.md)
- [CircuitPython Hardware: PCA9685 DC Motor & Stepper Driver](https://learn.adafruit.com/micropython-hardware-pca9685-dc-motor-and-stepper-driver.md)
- [Adafruit AirLift Shield - ESP32 WiFi Co-Processor](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-airlift-shield-esp32-wifi-co-processor.md)
- [No-Code IKEA Vindriktning Air Quality Sensor Hack with Adafruit IO](https://learn.adafruit.com/no-code-ikea-vindriktning-hack-with-qt-py-esp32-s3-and-adafruit-io.md)
- [How to Choose a Microcontroller](https://learn.adafruit.com/how-to-choose-a-microcontroller.md)
- [CircuitPython Display Support Using displayio](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-display-support-using-displayio.md)