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Cell Phone interface with Onstar Update

S

sirjace av2500-04

SM 2004
Full Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2004
Messages
47
Location
Boston Area
One of the coolest mods I think as others have mentioned in the past would be to connect your cell phone to the Onstar hands free mic and radio interface. As discussed it seems like uhl electronics have been working on it. Well today I found this update.

Our Latest News:

Wednesday, April 07, 2004
We are in the final "inhouse" stages of beta testing the Triad2, which is initially specifically designed for the '02 Avalanche, '02 Suburban, and '02 Cadillac EXT. After successful external beta testing, the intent is to re-design (IF NECESSARY) the Triad2 to accommodate other GM vehicles. Thank you for your patience.
posted 11:56 AM

http://www.uhltronics.com/news.html

Take a look. It doesn't look like it will take much longer. I just hope it works with the my 04.

;D
 
Here is the latest from an email I received from UHL:

Thank you for your continued interest.  The final stages to the re-design are in progress on the PBC this month.  Goals are to have this accomplished by month-end with a beta test to immediately follow.  One of our  beta testers is an Avalanche owner in the Dallas area.
Click to expand...
 
Not sure about any place else, but here in the NJ area VERIZON has linked with OnStar to do this very thing.  It is available for certain models equipped with OnStar.  My 2005 Caddy DTS can link up right now.  My 2004 AV is not so lucky.  I am being told by OnStar and Verizon that GM is working on an adapter for my version of OnStar as it is "capable with an adapter" but not ready like the DTS as it is digital right now.

So that is what I know to add to this discussion. 

If this is like every other thread I post to this will be the LAST post on this thread. So if anyone ever hears of the adapter becomming available please start the thread up again.

Thanks,
Dan
 
Actually, it depends when you bought your 04.

If your's is analog/digital, it should work. If Analog, digital ready, you'll have to wait until they have the upgrade kits for the dealers!

GM Techlink Article
 
JSal69, myself and ? other's are prying info from what we can. They are somewhat quiet about their upgrade implementation timeline plans.
 
Just so new readers understand. ?

This posting is about adding an aftermarket handsfree kit to OnStar system so you can use your OnStar persoanl calling and other features and/or use your own cell-phone in the vehicle with sound coming out of speakers and utilizing the steering wheel phone controls.

I was not referring to the option to share OnStar minutes with Verizon calling plans, etc.
 
Yup!  That's basicly what I said, I think.  I have the following happen when I pushthe White Dot:

Step 1: Press the white-dot button


Step 2: Say ?Help?
?OnStar Ready?


The system replies with up to 14 options, such as ?Dial,? ?Call,? ?Directory,? and ?Virtual Advisor.?


Analog/Digital-Ready


So therfore I am told by OnStar, VERIZON and Chevy Dlr that I have to wait for the adapter.

So I'm waiting. ;D
 
Here is the intent per the UHL site:

"The Triad interfaces with your SAAB's audio system to allow a mobile phone conversation to be played through the speakers, thereby allowing the volume to be controlled by the steering wheel mounted volume controls (if equipped).

The Triad won't compromise the safety that OnStar provides. The Triad was engineered to always give OnStar priority in the event of an airbag deployment. Even if you use the emergency key, the OnStar system will always take priority over the mobile phone call."
Click to expand...

 
I have been talking to both On Star and Verizon about using the steering wheel controls and built in hands free kit in my 05  AV with my existing (all digital) Verizon account.  They said there is no such option and there is none in the works, I asked to talk to a supervisor, same answer, then I called On Star, same reply, no way to integrate a existing Verizon digital cell phone into the new On Star system.  With my 400 min plan, I can?t even share minutes.  The only option I have according to everyone I talked to is to forward my calls from my cell to the truck every time I use it, not acceptable.

If there ever does come a interface solution, I would love to hear about it, this is at the top of my list of wants.  Who wants two separate numbers to give everyone even if I could share minutes?


Verizon and On Star dropped the ball big time here IMO.
 
Web said:
hummm look here....

http://www.vzwshop.com/onstar/
Click to expand...

I?ve read several threads on this and there seems to be a lot of confusion on what some of us (original poster) are asking.

Not going to speak for everyone else, but I think I?m on the same page as the original poster here.? We are not talking about Sharing Minutes, that's a whole different story and IMO completely useless.? You still have 2 different cell numbers when you use the On Star built in cell phone, that?s the problem.? If someone calls my cell number it won't ring the truck phone.? If they would allow the truck phone number and my personal cell phone number be the same then the problem would be solved, period.? That way if some one calls me the truck and my hand held would ring and I could pick up which ever I wished.? This way I could use the built in hands free device and have muting, plus the convenience of the neat steering wheel controls.? As it is, I must install another (redundant) hands free kit for my hand held, very silly considering all the hardware is already in place to use the existing On Star hands free kit.

Even so, many plans and areas don?t allow sharing minutes,  not that I care, as I said, useless.
 
For me, I was able to convert my current verizon plan to the family share plan.  By doing so, I was able to add my On-Star digital ('05 AV) phone to the plan for an additional $10/mo.

So, when I get in my truck, I dial *72 and the ten-digit number assigned to my truck.  My handheld phone no longer rings, as my truck does.  When I get to where I'm going, I dial *73 to cancel the forwarding.  Kinda of a hassle, but I like having the hands-free ability.

I think there is a way to have my cell ring first, then ring in my tuck, then failover to my handheld voice mail.

For me, this works because the phone in the truck is much more powerful then any handheld.  I usually get great reception, and have yet to drop a call.

Not to mention the voice reconition is pretty decent.  I don't have to fumble around with my phone to make a call.  I just say "call" and then say the name I have already pre-programmed.  Or, I say "dial" and then announce the ten digit number I want to call.

The neat thing about doing the "call" or "dial" command, the DIC displays the number.  Pretty cool.  It doesn't display the number on an inbound call.  That would be too cool.

It does get a little frustrating when it tells me to "slow down" or gets  a number wrong.

IMO, this is much cleaner then trying to get an add-on system to work.

BUT, I would have prefered if GM / On-Star built in bluetooth from the begining.


 
I totally understand where you are coming from; I've been through the exact same scenario.  All I want is for my existing Verizon phone # to be easily integrated to my truck phone #.  The only way I can come close is to Forward my calls to my truck every time I get in it, and un-forward every time I get out, total PIA.  I too love the built in hands free kit, very intelligible and much easier to use then my aftermarket hands free kit, plus it mutes the radio.  It's a shame that we are so close to having a nice factory hands free kit, but can't quite use it because of On Star and Verizon wont get their stuff together.  Doesn?t surprise me though, most cell phone users don?t seem to care about hands free kits anyway, they seem to be perfectly satisfied with killing someone on the road so thy can make a frivolous call that could have waited until they get home.  Maybe when the laws change because of these idiots, people will demand a better integrated hands free kit and factories will make the final change to make this system work.  All they have to do is allow me to have my truck # and cell # the same, Mercedes is already doing this.
 
Update from UHL on the Avalanche kit:

We are in the process of submitting the redesign of the pcb to the manufacture. When we receive the boards they will be populated with the ic's and the system tested for the proper performance.

Respectfully,

UHLTronics  LLC
Click to expand...

Not sure what a "pcb" and "ic's" are.
 
PCB = Printed Circuit Board. This is the board that all the electronic components are mounted on.
IC = Integrated Circuit (chips)

Talk about a confusing thread. 2 totally separate conversations going on at once.
I have my 05 OnStar phone connected to my Veriaon account for the $10 a month and it has its own phone number.

Also, I would like to hear more about the adaptor that this thread started with. Being able to take your cell phone and plug it into the OnStar equipment in my Av to use the handsfree features sounds great.

Please keep us posted.
 
May be a bit off topic, but for those who may be interested:

I have the Verizon / Onstar phone in both a Suburban and the 2005 Avalanche

upside is, once you use it, you will throw your headsets a mile.

better sound on both ends and fewer dropped calls.

several downsides:

1. no call waiting

2. no caller id

3. no voicemail

You can use call forwarding on your portable, either instant or 5 rings and delay but if you are not in the car, users get a dead end.

alternative is to use the onstar cell number as your primary and do a five ring forward to your portable cell with voicemail

Confirm this, but my understanding (and what my bills say) is that forwarded calls do not incur airtime between family share plan members.? But if you forward to a land line, you would be charged as if you made the call from the cell to the landline.
 
Per the original thread, I think.....

I too would be interested in an adapter to plug my phone into
to use the onstar equipment. I'm not interested in sending
Verizon any more money!
 
going to there website and clicking on latest news yields news as recent as Oct. '04  (n)...I bet the new digital onStar is giving them fits and they cannot communicate w/ the system....damn!
 
Our Latest News:
Friday, October 21, 2005
This has been a terribly long, difficult, complex, overwhelming process. We finally have received the PCB's and are in the processing of populating them with components "on hand". We're also awaiting delivery of other "ordered" components. Thank you for your patience. We'll get there yet.

posted 8:21 AM

Thursday, October 28, 2004
Inhouse beta testing was successful on a Cadillac EXT. After external beta testing on an Avalanche, a problem was discovered. We are re-designing and doing inhouse beta testing again with projection for external beta testing to be done in late November. Thank you for your patience.
 
JP customs has a new gizmo...does not interface w/ onstar...but still looks good check it out here.
 
$275 . . . wow!

That would get you a couple of years of Verizon Onstar phone service and a better result.

Needs to be less than $100 for it to make sense  . . . .

Here's another advantage to the Onstar phone - my wife never leaves it home OR forgets to charge it OR leaves it turned off . . . . . .

(come on, admit it; how many of you have significant others who think the phone is a paperweight?)
 
I just don't understand the problem with call forward. what do you do whenyou are not home and home phone rings. its the same problem. if you have quest and have their phone it does the same thing. The object is so you can use onstar hands free. Look at the bright side verizion to verizion is free. and free weekends. what more can you ask for other than a working onstar. I could talk to my wife hands free if mine worked and was digital. Coming soon to a  theather near you oh I mean my avalanche. When indought fix it yourself. Dealer ten trips and $$$$$$ and lucky they can do it.
 
The "BlueConnect" unit does not say if it's a full duplex speakerphone. It really should be for that amount.

A simple Panasonic cordless with a speakerphone is, and you can tell the speakerphone's difference from the cheaper half-duplex units that cut the speaker in & out with each little noise on your end..
 
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