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All GM vehicles made before 2015 maybe affected by OnStar issue in 2022

Vaeagleav

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I just received an email yesterday from OnStar that due to tech upgrades from it's current 2G connection to 4G or 5G being instituted current users are going to have to use a device called the OnStar Link and put it in their OBD-II port and to then tie into their smart phone program called OnStar Guardian App. in order to keep all services after the switch sometime in 2022.
I wonder what those owners who use Range technology device to deactivate AFM are supposed to do? Also i wonder if the Onstar Link will cause a parasitic drain on the battery over time?
Then I guess old timers like my family who don't have a smart phone will be out of luck since the OnStar Guardian App is smart phone dependent and we don't want to spend the added cost of a smart phone just to keep OnStar........
 
Man, it would be really nice if they could partner with head unit manufacturers to add support. It would give consumers added flexibility, features, and convenience if they really wanted to go that route.

Personally, onstar has always been expensive for what it offered. By the time you rely on your phone for their services, it would likely be easier just to cut them entirely and use your phone instead.

Smart phone apps that run perpetually are not always reliable, so i see a ton of issues with this new method.
 
WHo has onstar? I find it a waste of $$$
 
For those of us without smart phones OnStar still can be useful but with any form of "insurance" it is a waste of money if not used but in turn if it's ever needed it comes in handy. It can contact emergency services even if you are unconscious due to accident or medical issues, it has been used many times to help recover stolen cars and in newer year vehicles authorities can not only contact OnStar to locate vehicle but if in pursuit they can have OnStar shut off vehicle to end pursuit and hopefully limit injury or damage by ending pursuit.
Also if you happen to lock your phone in the vehicle you can still contact OnStar through another person's phone or even a land line to get them to unlock your vehicle. Then if you have OnStar you don't need AAA or some other policy for towing or roadside assistance.
You also would not have the monthy status reports of your vehicle and early warnings with your phone alone if you didn't get the OnStar Guardian app.
But as my late mother-in-law used to say "That's why they make chocolate and vanilla!".
 
Ya may want to read these 2 articles GM sent out in August On Star may truly be Gone Star



The feeling I'm getting is they plan to make serious changes in 2022-23

PS how in the world can you not have a smartphone
 
Well MS03 2500 I guess it is a matter of being an old geezer luddite who is used to the old ways.
I use a landline for my phone calls, a desktop or laptop computer for web use and don't mind the piece and quiet of not being "connnected" 24/7.
I prefer talking face to face with someone and if not I want to hear them in voice not just some text message or tweet or whatever.

 
I have family members that still use flop phones for various reasons, not least of which is durability and simplicity. But if it wasn't for their business phones, they would have cut the land line a long time ago. Too many spam calls in general, and not a lot you can do about it. Same reason i had mine unplugged for the last couple years. Cell phone carriers are at least doing the bare minimum spam blocking now, with smart phones having even better coverage with apps.

That said, id argue that for most people looking to retain an on star style of service, you may be better of looking to go the android auto route with a reliable cell carrier. Utilize the assistant features, real time map directions, and utilize road side assistance though your insurance/ AAA. (said policy additions on my insurance for my 2500 is like.. $1.20 a month though progressive).

This would cost more upfront for the head unit, install, but would be much cheaper afterwards and you could cut your land line cost if you wanted. Nothing says you cant have a smartphone and keep it mostly disconnected. you just don't download and sign into apps and control the permissions of data.

I think the only features that are rather irreplaceable with the OnStar service are the crash response (if you're incapacitated) and anti theft functions. Which are options that cant really be replaced affordably.
 
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Way back in the day I thought the same thing about pagers, work wanted me to carry one. I said I'm the dayshift manager why do I need a pager. That bit me in the butt 2 weeks later they made me the operations manager and here is your damn pager.

Then around 93, they started making phones that were hard-wired to the car. So I had cell phone, car phone and home phone. it never ends.

But back to subject, that thing they are offering you is actually a Verizon Hum and it comes with or without the smart phone
 
But back to subject, that thing they are offering you is actually a Verizon Hum and it comes with or without the smart phone
Though, in the case of OnStar, it still requires said smart phone, correct? If i remember, hum was an effort to get the newer connectivity features inside older cars. Niche application imo, however, it makes a lot more sense if it's used for broader applications such as thing
 
There is an older model Hum x for

  • Includes Roadside Assistance
  • Strong 4G LTE Wi-Fi connection
  • Bluetooth calling through Hum X speaker

 
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Several years ago, I switched my business land line over to a free Google Voice line.

That worked so well, I have since switched my home land line, my daughter's home land line and my mother's home land line to free Google Voice lines.

We own the phone numbers free forever and the spam is much easier to manage and the configuration options are outstanding.

All together, we are now saving hundreds of dollars per month that would have been going to the phone companies.

And we have been doing it for years now.

Even though you can do this with an existing standard old cell phone as the host device (all you need is a valid working phone number as the host), having a smart phone gives you a lot more control when using their app.

As far as the On-Star, I have never used it and I see very little value in having it.

That being said, I doubt I would miss it if it went away totally.
 
I think I had OnStar for 2 years I even have the digital upgrade done. But never use it. My smartphone could do the same thing as it could.
 
We switched over to an Ooma phone a few years ago and kept our number. I now keep it as the land solely. When filling out paperwork etc. I use my home number. I honestly don't remember the last time I answered it but it keeps the spam off my cell phone. Last thing I want is a spammer calling me while I'm driving.
 
I installed an Ooma device in conjunction with two of our Google Voice numbers because those owners wanted to continue to use their old home cordless phones and answering machines at those locations.

Works great and gives them the piece of mind that a 911 call will be directed properly to their location.

The other Google Voice numbers are directed to the owner's cell phones.

One of the features I like about the Google Voice number is you can forward the calls to any or all other valid phone numbers you own.

One of our Google Voice numbers forwards to both the Ooma device and the owner's cell phone at the same time, without having to use any apps.

Both Ooma and Google Voice have smart phone apps, if you want to use them.

I use the GV app for my business phone number on my cell phone.

Using the app, I am able to make outbound phone calls and texts from my cell phone through my GV business number and the caller ID shows on the other end correctly as my business number.

This helps to keep my private cell phone number private.

All GV texts are available both on my cell phone and on the web at all times.

On a computer with a mic and speakers, you can send and receive GV phone calls directly from the computer.

Both services have web based dashboards.

Google Voice allows you to send and receive texts from that former land line, can transpose voicemails and allows you to send voicemail message files via email or text.

GV allows call screening and grouping of callers with custom voicemail greetings and message handling.

Both services have good spam filtering and management tools, as well as their own voicemail features.

For someone that is not afraid to do some configuration, both services have a lot of neat features to use.

For someone that just wants to quit paying monthly bills to the phone company, but want to keep their old land line, porting your land line phone number over to an Ooma device is the easiest way to go.

You can keep your old cordless phone devices around the house, just like before, with the Ooma device.

You WILL need Internet access of some sort in the location of the Ooma device, if you want to go that route.

Otherwise, just port your old land line over to Ooma and use the smart phone app on your cell phone.

To be transparent, the two locations that are using the Ooma device in conjunction with a Google Voice number do pay for an optional upgraded service from Ooma the allows that service to more closely integrate with Google Voice and access some of it's functions.

Someone not wanting to do that can use the Ooma device stand alone for a zero dollar monthly charge.

Using Google Voice by itself also costs nothing every month.

My owners pay around $18 a month, including tax, for the upgraded package from Ooma.

The other GV numbers, like my business number, are completely free.

Just look at your monthly phone bill and see how nice it would be to save that money every month.

We have saved tons.
 
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I just came across this thread while cruising the site.

Wow, I had no idea that OnStar still existed. Now I know. To me OnStar is from the era of the AOL CD’s.
 
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I just came across this thread while cruising the site.

Wow, I had no idea that OnStar still existed. Now I know. To me OnStar is from the era of the AOL CD’s.
In many ways I agree, but there are a few features that are still appealing, not that I use onstar..

Automatic crash response
Stolen vehicle locator
Wifi hotspot for the kids' tablets
 
I still have not heard why gm/ OnStar is switching over to AT&T from Verizon for 5g. It would seem that it would cost a fortune to switch 16 million current customers.
 
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I don't know why the switch either? I just hope GM doesn't follow BMW with going to the Alexia system...I feel like people are willing to give up privacy for convienience and have to have all the bells and whistles kind of thinking........
 
I feel the same way. I really don't like the idea of an automaker or the government having access to my vehicle. It's now possible for a company to update your vehicle's software while it's sitting in your driveway.
 
I guess it's inevitable with the advancement of technology being forced upon us old timers.....here is what system they are putting on the new Suburbans and Tahoes.
 
Yup they are all that way.
 
I went to look at an 02 a few weekends ago, and the guy was filling me in on how "cool" the truck was and all of the "features" that it had, I just let him tell me what he knew (which was not much) lol...

He said " the truck has everything, even OnStar. I filled him in on the fact that the analog system had't worked since 2005(ish) I think and advised him that he could pull the OnStar buttons to replace it with a cubby :laugh::laugh:

And no, I didn't buy, the truck was rougher than I originally thought.
 
I went to look at an 02 a few weekends ago, and the guy was filling me in on how "cool" the truck was and all of the "features" that it had, I just let him tell me what he knew (which was not much) lol...

He said " the truck has everything, even OnStar. I filled him in on the fact that the analog system had't worked since 2005(ish) I think and advised him that he could pull the OnStar buttons to replace it with a cubby :laugh::laugh:

And no, I didn't buy, the truck was rougher than I originally thought.
Whatcha looking for in an 02???? Might know where there’s a southern one.
 
Ideally a rust free 4wd cladded truck. Preferably an 03-06, but 02 is fine by me as well lol
Well a highly modded Z66 won’t help ya much. It’s time for her to find a new home.
WAY too many vehicles in the driveway day to day lol.
 
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