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Adafruit FONA 808 Shield - Mini Cellular GSM + GPS for Arduino

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Elmwood Electronics has stopped accepting orders. This product might be available at PiShop.ca. Please check this blog post about our recent team merger.

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.

If you want a version without GPS, check out the FONA 800 Shield here.

If you don't need the shield format, we also have this is a petite breakout here.

If you just want a plain FONA, click here.

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 (MT3337 chipset 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 : -148 dBm
  • Time-To-First-Fix
    Cold starts: 32s (typ.)
    Hot starts: 1s (typ.)
    Warm starts: 5s (typ.)
  • Accuracy: approx 2.5 meters

Sounds delicious, right? So we plated this fine module onto a shield with all the extras you need to make your next project shine

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!

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

There's also some recommended accessories. They are not required but chances are you'll want them!

Check out our great tutorial for code, wiring diagrams, schematics, datasheets and more!