Adafruit FONA 3G Cellular Breakout

The Adafruit FONA 3G Cellular Breakout is an all-in-one 3G cellular modem with integrated GPS, packed into a compact 1.75 × 1.6-inch board. It provides voice calling, SMS, GPRS data, and GPS geolocation in a single module — ideal for adding cellular connectivity and location tracking to your microcontroller project.

The module offers GSM backwards-compatibility on quad-band 2G networks (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) plus 3G WCDMA + HSDPA. It includes a Qualcomm PM8015 GPS receiver controllable over the same serial port, and supports AT commands at baud rates from 300 bps up to 4.0 Mbps. The board features built-in level shifting (2.8–5 V logic), LiPo battery charging, and native USB serial.

Key Features

• 3G Cellular + GPS – Integrated modem with Qualcomm PM8015 GPS on a single breakout
• Quad-Band 2G – 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM for global 2G fallback
• Voice, SMS, and Data – Make/receive calls, send/receive SMS, GPRS data (TCP/IP, HTTP)
• Native USB – Plug into a computer for serial GPS and modem access
• LiPo Battery Charging – On-board charger via Micro-USB; requires 500 mAh+ battery
• Level Shifting – Works with 2.8–5 V logic levels
• TRRS Headphone Jack – Standard 4-pole jack for Android/iPhone-compatible headsets
• Speaker + Mic Breakouts – Pads for external 8 Ω speaker and electret microphone
• uFL Antenna Connectors – Separate uFL ports for GSM and GPS antennas
• Standard SIM Slot – Accepts a mini SIM card (2G or 3G)
• AT Command Interface – Controllable via UART from any 3–5 V microcontroller

GPS Specifications

• Channels: 16 acquisition
• Signal: GPS L1 C/A code
• Tracking Sensitivity: −157 dBm
• Cold Start Sensitivity: −144 dBm
• TTFF Cold Start: ~100 s typical
• TTFF Hot Start: ~1 s typical
• Accuracy: ~2.5 m

Also Available

• FONA 3G Cellular Breakout – European Version (900/2100 MHz WCDMA)
• FONA 3G Cellular Breakout – American Version (850/1900 MHz WCDMA)
• FONA 808 – Mini Cellular GSM + GPS Breakout (2G, easier to use)
• FONA Mini Cellular GSM Breakout – uFL Version

Required Accessories (Not Included)

• 2G or 3G mini SIM card
• LiPo battery – 500 mAh or larger
• Micro-USB cable for charging and USB communication
• External uFL GSM antenna
• External active GPS antenna (uFL; may need uFL-to-SMA adapter)

Ideal For

• IoT projects requiring cellular data connectivity
• GPS asset tracking and geolocation
• Remote sensing and telemetry
• Voice and SMS-enabled embedded devices

Package Contents

• 1× Adafruit FONA 3G Cellular Breakout