I just found that OnStar is introducing a new unit this Spring/Summer. You have to replace your rear view mirror and subscribe to their service. I'm wondering if anyone has any more info? The website says it will require 'professional install" - probably meaning at Best Buy, etc.

Those who have it, what does the service cost? I suppose it would be nice to have in time of accident or it the truck gets stolen but is it helpful otherwise.

Would you add it to your truck??

 

OnStar? I thought that was specific to GM? No?

 

My buddy bought a brand new Chevy and came with 1 yr service. They called him when it was time to renew his subscription. He said "Hell, I was rear ended twice and ya'll are just now calling me". They said they are only alerted if the airbags go off. He said, "So if I roll down an embankment and the air bags don't go off, you're not really helping me"

"No"

He dropped them like CBS dropped Charlie Sheen.

 

http://www.onstar.com/web/portal/Planspricing

It may have its pros and cons but I think it over rated....

 

The professional install I guess depends on what it is doing.

The GM ( and previous Lexus integration ) the onstar system could do a lot more than just offer up directions, but it required a bunch of integration work into the car's system.

The theft part, might want to check if the mirror install has a way of integrating into the fuel delivery system ( i.e. a relay that is inline with the fuel inertia switch ) to shut the vehicle down. GM has this as part of the BCM, and actually kills the motor ( vs the inertia switch integration runs the engine dry to kill it ).

Airbag deployment would require integration into the RCM ( don't think I would let BestBuy do this myself ) to know if the airbags deployed.

The concierge service, they can look up items, and download it to the NAV system. Not too sure how this would work if you had an external GPS, and the integration into the factory NAV system, not too sure if the Ford system has this feature on the older systems.

OnStar really hosed their customers when the analog CDMA system was EOL'd. They had the notification and were still selling the analog units in new cars. The upgrade, buy a new unit and have it installed, sorry don't care your car is only 2 years old.

When it comes down to it, you will need to list the features that would make you want to buy it, and see if they are supported.

 

Has anyone here read 1984? I don't like the feeling that my vehicle would be "bugged" and anyone could see where I am, have been, or etc.

I work with emergency services and I've been to a few calls reported by OnStar. They are absolutely no help. The system might be good but the people there suck. They bascially say that they have a report of a crash on road so-an-so. No status of patients, centralized locating, vehicle, etc. I'd rather have the victim call us, they have more info.

 

On Star has been exclusive to GM vehicles but that's the purpose of this new unit - it's a "bolt on" accessory that allegedly will bring their 'core' services to any vehicle. Sensor integration into various sub systems would likely be why they say it will require professional install?

And Raptor - thanks for the info.I guess the situation might be different if you were incapacitated and could not call help on your own. Not sure that would justify the costs.

 

We have it on my wifes car. $20 a month after the first year of free service. Been doing it for three years and have no complaints. Been very useful when the wife has called with the keys locked in. 5 minutes later down the road she goes. If it gets stolen I would kind of be happy, afterall its a gm. lol

 

In which case the only plus side for OnStar is if you live in Alaska where you are on a road by yourself... 95% of all accident calls are reported to 911 by witnesses, not the victim.

 

Do you have a cell phone now ?
If so, you already have this feature with you all the time ( not just in your truck ).

If the phone is old enough not to have a GPS function in it ( 2G & 2.5G GSM phones ) the triangulation of your location off 2 or more cell towers will pin point your location down to 150' circle. 1 manufacture can point point a location off a single cell tower that has 3 sectors on it.

You are worried about where your truck is, this is where you are in or out of your truck.

My guess it is marketed as professional installation required just for the fact they need to have power hooked up to it, it is not a stick it to the windshield and go ( like a GPS ).
Not too sure what core services are included with it, to know how far the install will go. If you are handy with electrical, do not see why you cannot do this yourself. Again if it is RCM integration, I would be leery about it myself, but that is just me. You will want to make sure of the guy doing RCM integration can do it correctly.

I have seen the professionals from car shops do RMST installs at dealers, and the end results are wires in T-tap splices where they used no solder, just electrical tape to hold the splice together. This is an alleged professional doing this from a local large car stereo shop.

 

Its not just location, its everything and anything to do with your vehicle. For a phone company to enable GPS feature (without calling 911) a court has to have subpoena. OnStar can pull up everything and anything with the click of a button.

 

2 things

1. Do you think it is that hard to get the subpoena ?
- If you are concerned about being tracked by a GPS device, you might want to rethink what you are doing.

2. You are worried about OnStar pulling up info, how about the employees at the phone company ? The phone is tracked by hand offs ( signal ), and the log on the hand offs and locations is kept. They know the same thing ( actually they know where your phone is, not just your vehicle ), and any tech can look at it. Your GSM phone does updates to let the tower know where it is at. This is without GPS functions. Spread Spectrum does this on multiple channels and uses signal quality to know which tower ( and by a bit of math where you are at in relation to those towers ) that your call should be forwarded to.

If you think someone wants to watch where you are at & have been, either change what you are doing or rethink your opinion of yourself.

Not everybody wants to follow you ( on a GPS device, cell phone or even twitter ), chances are nobody at the wireless provider or OnStar really care where you are at and for how long. Why is it good info to know your truck was at home for 18 hours. Who are they going to tell, your mom ?

Want something to be worried about, the CS rep at your Credit card company or bank not OnStar. They have the good info, enough to steal your identity. That is something to worry about, not OnStar knowing where your vehicle is/has been, which is just that your vehicle, it is supposition to say it is you.

Oh, see that..... Twitter update from OnStar CS rep Maggie 'Joe brown just left the Whole Foods and went to a Sunoco, wait no it is the Home Depot....more to follow'

Face the facts, you are just not that interesting....As most people are not.
The ilks of Twitter and Facebook, have the population think everybody cares that they are at Whole Foods looking for alphadophilus milk... A False sense of importance.

 

So if we let this go by pretty soon the next gen OnStar will have live video feed of your vehicle too.

 

Do you have a web cam on your PC ? Think a hacker might be able to turn it on ?

Again, how interesting do you think your life is ?
Now people want to watch you ?
Let me give you a hint, unless you are under investigation ( the change what you are doing part ) you are not that interesting, change your opinion of yourself.