NEW TUTORIAL: Adafruit FONA 808 Cellular + GPS Breakout

Cellular + GPS tracking, all in one? Oh yes! Introducing Adafruit FONA 808 MiniGSM + GPS, an all-in-one cellular phone module with that lets you add location-tracking, voice, text, SMS and data to your project in an adorable little package.

This module measure only 1.75″x1.6″ but packs a surprising amount of technology into it’s little frame. At the heart is a powerfull 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 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

Sounds delicious, right? So we plated this fine module onto a little breakout 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 and recharge over the MicroUSB when necessary. Two LEDs let you know when its charging and done
Standard 4-pole TRRS headphone jack. Use any ‘Android’ or ‘iPhone’-compatible headset with mic
Breakouts for external 32Ω speaker and electret mic if you don’t want to use a headphone
Level shifting circuitry so you can run it with 2.8V to 5V logic.
Vibrational motor (buzzer) driver so you can have noiseless notifications
uFL connections for external antennas
Indicator LEDs for power and network connectivity
Standard SIM slides into the back

On its own, this module can’t do anything. It requires a microcontroller to drive it! We suggest and use an Arduino but any 3-5V microcontroller with a UART can send and receive commands over the RX/TX pins.

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.
Lipoly Battery – 500mAh or larger! This 500mAh battery, or this 1200mAh will work great.
MicroUSB cable for charging the battery.
External uFL GSM Antenna – this slim one works great.
(or, if you want to us an SMA antenna – a uFL to SMA adapter cable.)
External uFL Passive GPS Antenna – like this one!

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.
Vibrating motor – the FONA can drive this directly, just solder a mini vibrating motor disc in!
USB console cable – the microUSB connector is for charging only, but you can wire up a console cable for direct-connection to the module if you want to send commands from a terminal (great for testing and tweaking)

See the full tutorial here!