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Has anyone gotten the OnStar Gen 6 Upgrade in pre-'05 model?

igotzzoom

SM 2017
SM 2016
Full Member
Joined
May 30, 2016
Messages
90
Location
Orange County, CA
I entered the VIN number on my '04 to see if I could reactivate the service. It came back and said my system was no longer supported. I looked into it a little further, and realized I have the old analog system. I guess they went to the hybrid Gen 5 analog/digital system in '05, and later models have the Gen 6 system, which as far as I know is still supported.

The last I read, the Gen 6 hardware upgrade is offered for $500, with a mandatory 3 year service agreement included. I also read somewhere else that if you're a current Verizon customer, it's a $10/month add-on, and $200 for the hardware. Has anyone done this upgrade, and what kind of deal did you get? Thanks in advance.
 
Yup I did years ago but it was free then with a one year contract. I guess they were trying to keep customers.
 
I did the upgrade years ago in my 2004 Av. Like posted above I believe my upgrade was about $100 with a 2 year contract but that was when the switch to digital was new and many vehicles were getting the upgrade at the time.
 
I'm guessing a previous owner of my EXT must have had the digital upgrade done, at some point.

If you hit one of the OnStar buttons either on the mirror or on the steering wheel, the OnStar operator thing starts talking to you.

I never intend to use OnStar.

They don't appear to have anything I am willing to pay for.

So, it is what it is.

 
I guess it's what you want to use it for, if you pay the money for it you will not have the features as the modern ones.  If you just want phone service there other ways of getting it.
 
Yeah. I'm debating it. I'm probably going to call a few dealers in the area and see what the deal is. If its only about $200, and two years service, I may upgrade just in case I ever re-sell it. I looked up the specifics on that generation of OnStar service, and it seems it requires a cell signal. I thought OnStar was a satellite-based service, but for Gen 6, it seems the satellite is used only for GPS purposes. Any kind of data communications requires cell service. That being the case, I don't really see the value, especially considering when my current phone is LTE, and the Gen 6 service is CDMA, which may eventually be phased out as well. Thanks for the feedback.
 
Try calling onstar and ask them about it. The way mine went was onstar sent me a letter about the upgrade, they sent the VCIM and antenna to the dealer the dealer installed it then onstar programmed it.

The dealer had very little to do with it. Just make sure the gen 6 will do the turn by turn instructions.

Or swap out your radio for a stock GM Navigation the only problem is GM has not updated the maps since 2012.
 
Not been watching the form for a while, having an 02 Avy was thinking on upgrading my on star as will be taking a trip to Az. for family stuff like is said want to up grade my On Star.
 
This won't work on the 02, but you can get the Onstar FMV


https://www.onstar.com/us/en/help-support/fmv.html
 
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