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

The Adafruit FONA 808 Shield combines 2G cellular connectivity with integrated GPS tracking in an Arduino shield form factor. Built around the SIM808 module with an MT3337 GPS chipset, it provides voice calling, SMS, GPRS data, and GPS geolocation — all controlled over serial via AT commands. Simply plug it onto your Arduino and start building cellular-connected, location-aware projects.

The GPS module offers −165 dBm tracking sensitivity, 22 tracking / 66 acquisition channels, and a 32-second typical cold start. The shield includes LiPo battery charging with a power switch, level shifting for Arduino-safe operation, a TRRS headphone jack, vibration motor driver, and uFL antenna connectors for both GSM and GPS.

Key Features

• SIM808 Quad-Band GSM + GPS – 850/900/1800/1900 MHz 2G + integrated MT3337 GPS
• Arduino Shield Form Factor – Plugs directly onto Arduino UNO and compatible boards
• Voice, SMS, and Data – Make/receive calls, send/receive SMS, GPRS data (TCP/IP, HTTP)
• LiPo Battery Charging – On-board charger with power switch and charge status LEDs
• Level Shifting – Arduino-safe logic level conversion built in
• uFL Antenna Connectors – Separate uFL ports for GSM and passive GPS antennas
• TRRS Headphone Jack – Standard 4-pole jack for Android/iPhone-compatible headsets
• Speaker + Mic Breakouts – Pads for external 32 Ω speaker and electret microphone
• Vibration Motor Driver – PWM/buzzer output for silent notifications
• AT Command Interface – Auto baud detection

GPS Specifications

• Channels: 22 tracking / 66 acquisition
• Signal: GPS L1 C/A code
• Tracking Sensitivity: −165 dBm
• Cold Start Sensitivity: −148 dBm
• TTFF Cold Start: ~32 s typical
• TTFF Warm Start: ~5 s typical
• TTFF Hot Start: ~1 s typical
• Accuracy: ~2.5 m

Also Available

• FONA 808 – Mini Cellular GSM + GPS Breakout (breakout form factor)
• FONA 800 Shield (without GPS)
• FONA Mini Cellular GSM Breakout – uFL Version
• FONA 3G – European Version (3G + GPS)

Required Accessories (Not Included)

• Arduino UNO or compatible board
• 2G mini SIM card
• LiPo battery – 500 mAh or larger
• External uFL GSM antenna
• External uFL passive GPS antenna

Ideal For

• GPS asset tracking and geolocation with cellular reporting
• Arduino-based IoT projects requiring 2G data + GPS
• Voice and SMS-enabled devices
• Remote monitoring and telemetry

Package Contents

• 1× Adafruit FONA 808 Shield (assembled and tested)
• 1× Stick of 0.1-inch male header (soldering required)