Adafruit FONA – Mini Cellular GSM Breakout uFL Version – v1

Description

Ring, Ring! Who’s that callin’? It’s your breadboard! Introducing Adafruit FONA MiniGSM, an adorable all-in-one cellular phone module that lets you add voice, text, SMS and data to your project in an adorable little package.

This module measures only 1.75″x1.25″ but packs a surprising amount of technology into its little frame. At the heart is a GSM cellular module (we use the latest SIM800) the size of a postage stamp. This module can do just about everything. This version has a uFL connector. For the SMA version, click here!

Quad-band 850/900/1800/1900MHz – connect onto any global GSM network with any 2G SIM (in the USA, T-Mobile is suggested)
Make and receive voice calls using a headset OR an external 8? speaker + electret microphone
Send and receive SMS messages
Send and receive GPRS data (TCP/IP, HTTP, etc.)
Scan and receive FM radio broadcasts (yeah, we don’t exactly know why this was included but it works really well)
PWM/Buzzer vibrational motor control
AT command interface with “auto baud” detection

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 8? 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 antenna
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. US AT&T no longer sells 2G SIMs and will shut off their 2G network, so for American customers we recommend any T-Mobile or reseller (TING, SIMPLE mobile, etc) that uses the T-Mobile network.
Lipoly Battery – 500mAh or larger! This 500mAh battery, or this 1200mAh will work great.
MicroUSB cable for charging the battery.
External Antenna – We like this slim sticker-type, which plugs right in. Alternatively,  this straight SMA one or this right-angle SMA one will work but you’ll also need a uFL to SMA adapter cable so you can connect to your SMA antenna

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.
External Mic & Speaker – If you want to talk directly to your FONA, an electret mic and mini 8 ohm speaker will do quite nicely.
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)

Dimensions w/Components: 45mm x 34mm x 8mm / 1.8″ x 1.3″ x 0.3″
Dimensions of PCB: 45mm x 32mm x 2mm / 1.8″ x 1.3″ x .1″
Weight: 9.0g

Revision History:

As of December 22, 2015 we have replaced the SIM800L module with SIM800H which is backward compatible. Note that this board design does not have a bluetooth antenna on it so you cannot use the BT capabilities of the SIM800H

Datasheets:

SIM800 Command Manual – All the basic commands that the module supports
SIM800 Hardware Design
SIM800 Sleep App Note
SIM800 Embedded AT App Note
SIM800 Compiling Environments
SIM800 Bluetooth App Note
SIM800 FM App Note
SIM800 FS App Note
SIM800 GNSS Location App Note
SIM800 GSM Location App Note
SIM800 IP App Note
SIM800 MMS App Note
SIM800 Multiplexer App Note
SIM800 NTP App Note
SIM800 PCM App Note
SIM800 Software Upgrade App Note
SIM800 SSL App Note
SIM800 STK App Note
SIM800 TCPIP App Note
SIM800HL Schematic and PCB Reference Design
SIM800H GCF I13GC9551_RSE-E Report
SIM800H CE Certificate
SIM800H CTTL + GCF Test Report
I14Z46950-GPM01 Test Report
SIM800H PTCRB Test Report
SIM800H RoHS Test Report
SIM800H REACH Test Report
SIM800H GCF I13GC9551 Test Report
SIM800H FCC PCB Grant Final
SIM800H FCC DSS Grant Final
SIM800H CE EMC Test Report
SIM800H CE RF-BT Test Report
SIM800H CE RF-GSM Test Report
SIM800H SAFETY Test Report
SIM800H EPL Certificate
FCC TCB BT
R&TTE Statement of Opinion
FCC Part 15B Test Report
FCC Part 15C Test Report
FCC RF Test Report
FCC TCB

TUTORIAL:
Adafruit FONA [by Adafruit]

SOFTWARE:
Adafruit FONA Library