OnStar, 2008 NO Analog

[Jerro]

2008 Analog goes off for ONSTAR:

"Analog-Only: OnStar-equipped vehicles with analog-only equipment were designed to operate only on the analog cellular network and cannot be upgraded to operate on the digital network. Vehicles with this equipment will no longer be able to receive OnStar services beginning January 1, 2008. At that time, service will be available only through dual-mode (analog/digital) equipment. Analog-only vehicles cannot be upgraded to digital equipment. (Refer to Question #6 for additional details.)"

http://www.onstar.com/us_english/jsp...iew=tech_equip

[Jay2TheRescue]

Was there anything that said which model years had analog-only equipment?

-Jay

[Jerro]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

Was there anything that said which model years had analog-only equipment?

-Jay

Yes, I believe it effected some mid and late 90's models It was also on CNN etc. I'LL find it and post it. There is no conversion kit for analog phones.

[Alienware_51]

I'm not sure but don't the new OnStar system operate on satellite?

[strunke]

Originally Posted by Alienware_51

I'm not sure but don't the new OnStar system operate on satellite?

They still operate on CDMA. There might be new ones that use satellite when no other signal is available. I'm not sure.

[Alienware_51]

No wonder why in Rogers City I can never make a call over OnStar, because it runs off of Alltel..hehe

[strunke]

Originally Posted by Alienware_51

No wonder why in Rogers City I can never make a call over OnStar, because it runs off of Alltel..hehe

Doh! Haha. They still run off cdma because it's still a lot cheaper to make a call with cdma then over satellite....

[Alienware_51]

Yea, plus isn't satellite's voice quality bad or something? I thought I read that somewhere....

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by Jerro

Yes, I believe it effected some mid and late 90's models It was also on CNN etc. I'LL find it and post it. There is no conversion kit for analog phones.

That makes sense. There's not enough money in making a retrofit kit for a car that's going on 10 years old. Most users won't buy it anyway.

-Jay

[Fire14]

I think this also answers another question that was brought up on another thread, if it runs on CDMA, I guess these carriers plan on shutting off Analog in 08 as well.

If this affects cars built in the mid 90's, then they will be close to 10 years old & most of these cars aren't used or the owners most likely don't use the On Star system anymore.

I guess they can't put new systems in these older cars if people wanted them anyhow & is another way for them to try & force people into getting new cars if they really were that big on the On Star system alone.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by Fire14

I think this also answers another question that was brought up on another thread, if it runs on CDMA, I guess these carriers plan on shutting off Analog in 08 as well.

If this affects cars built in the mid 90's, then they will be close to 10 years old & most of these cars aren't used or the owners most likely don't use the On Star system anymore.

I guess they can't put new systems in these older cars if people wanted them anyhow & is another way for them to try & force people into getting new cars if they really were that big on the On Star system alone.

Yeah, that's what I was getting at. By the time the car is that old most people aren't paying a monthly fee to maintain services like that.

-Jay

[RadioFoneGuy]

I thought they used satellite myself till a couple of days ago. Using analog does explain the aweful sound quality. Satellite kinda sucks to if you have ever used it, it has a 5 second delay that will drive you nuts.

Onstar should join with some of the pager companies that still have stuff out there in the 900 band. At least they could retro these cars to send a page or something.

[Jerro]

Originally Posted by Cellonetech

I thought they used satellite myself till a couple of days ago. Using analog does explain the aweful sound quality. Satellite kinda sucks to if you have ever used it, it has a 5 second delay that will drive you nuts.

Onstar should join with some of the pager companies that still have stuff out there in the 900 band. At least they could retro these cars to send a page or something.

It does of course use satellite in one sense, the GPS system, to tell OnStar where the car is.

[MOTOhooligan]

Originally Posted by Cellonetech

Onstar should join with some of the pager companies that still have stuff out there in the 900 band. At least they could retro these cars to send a page or something.

To use OnStar you signed up through a carrier, sort of.

For example, I think Verizon had OnStar plans customers could be on. I don't know if they signed up directly through Verizon or through OnStar (probably OnStar.)

[Buickman]

I know I'm a little late here, but after working for GM for ten years I figure I can clear up a few things. First of all, turning off AMPS is going to affect more people than most here thought. They didn't start installing CDMA equipment (Generation 6) into vehicles until about the 04 model year. There may have been a few 03's, but not many, and it wasn't across the board until late 05 or the 06 model year. some 03 and up cars and trucks can be upgraded. Last I heard if you signed up for 3 years of service you would get the upgrade for free. As for using it as a phone, there rare two ways of doing it. All Onstar systems can get "personal calling" minutes, which works like a prepaid cell phone. You pay like $40 for 100 minutes that are good for a year (there are also other plans). Option 2, if you have a CDMA equipped vehicle, you can activate it on a VZW family plan like another handset for the 9.99 a month charge. That is what I do with my work truck, it works really nice for traveling because it is a 3 watt phone built into the vehicle.

[hf1khal]

OK I think this fits with the subject:

OnStar partners with MapQuest on navigation service



By Chrystal Johnson


Story posted: April 25, 2007 - 11:20 am EDT


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Advertisement


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DETROIT—OnStar subscribers will be able to send driving directions to their vehicles under a new partnership between General Motors' telematics service and the MapQuest Web site.

The navigation program, called OnStar Web Destination Entry, is scheduled to begin this summer. It will allow customers to use MapQuest to plan driving routes and send the directions to OnStar's turn-by-turn navigation system. Financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed.

"This technology allows drivers to plan for their destination ahead of time," OnStar President Chet Huber said at a press event here Tuesday. "Two clicks—it's that simple," he said.

Huber said he expected the program's rollout to be complete by year end. It will be available on GM models equipped with the OnStar turn-by-turn system. That includes more than 2 million vehicles this year and another 3 million in 2008, OnStar says.

The premium navigation package will be standard during the first year of OnStar service for select 2007 Buick, Cadillac, GMC and Saab vehicles. It will be available as an upgrade for $100 during the first year of OnStar service on select Chevrolet, Pontiac, Saturn, GMC and Hummer vehicles.

After the first year of service, the premium package, including turn-by-turn navigation, costs $299 a year.

OnStar has more than 4.5 million subscribers in the United States and Canada.

Chrystal Johnson is a reporter with Automotive News, a sister publication of RCR Wireless News. Both publications are owned by Crain Communications Inc.

http://www.rcrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll.../70425001/1017



And i have one question on what is marked in red, are these accounts considered as customers by the providers like VZW?

[dehaven.j]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

That makes sense. There's not enough money in making a retrofit kit for a car that's going on 10 years old. Most users won't buy it anyway.

-Jay

actually the equipment that can be upgraded was introduced on the 2003-2004 model year vehicles (mostly 2004) we had a 2004 gmc envoy that had the first version of the upgradable system.
our 2002 chevy trailblazer was analog only though!

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by dehaven.j

actually the equipment that can be upgraded was introduced on the 2003-2004 model year vehicles (mostly 2004) we had a 2004 gmc envoy that had the first version of the upgradable system.
our 2002 chevy trailblazer was analog only though!

That sucks because the car is only 5 years old. There should be something made available for customers owning cars less than 10 years old.

-Jay