GM’s OnStar – Fading Out For Some In 2008
November 1st, 2007 Posted in Auto Industry, Eric PetersThis is a guest post by NMA Member Bob Morrow.
General Motors’ OnStar cell phone system will be losing thousands of customers starting January 1st, 2008 due to technological changes. The OnStar system, which uses cell phone networks and GPS data to both call for help and provide location information, will not work for some customers after January 1st, 2008 due to an edict by OnStar in response to an FCC decision five years ago relating to analog cell phone systems.
Back in 2002, the Federal Communications Commission decided that the time had come to accelerate the conversion of cell phone systems from analog to digital. To effect this, they allowed (but did not require) cell phone companies to turn off their analog cell phone transmitter sites on Monday, February 18, 2008.
Because digital cell systems are much more capable and efficient, expect most analog systems to be turned off on that day or within a few weeks of it.
But, this presents a problem for some drivers of vehicles equipped with the OnStar system. When OnStar was first offered for sale in 1996, digital cell systems were new, so OnStar decided to go with analog equipment until around the 2002 model year. Guess what? If you have an OnStar-equipped vehicle made in that time frame, you can’t upgrade it to digital, so your OnStar will fade out for good on 1/1/08. If your vehicle was made between 2002-2004, it probably can be upgraded to digital, and OnStar systems made after that are already digital.
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Good, OnStar is an invasion of privacy and I wouldn’t want some Big Brother tracking system in my ride anyway.
Gm onstar should give us a refund on the older onstar equipment for the new car first owners on all not upgradable vehicles and some kind of equipment change for to remove the onstar equipment replace it with something to make the vehicle run without the onstar equipment since the outdated onstar equipment drains down the power of the vehicle battery when not in use.
While I don’t know much about that particular system I do work bench electronics (aviation) and I’m sure your correct. My concern is it’s potential for abuse with some slight engineering changes along with changes in the law that our congress seem to be all too willing to go along with. There’s no reason to believe this system couldn’t be modified to implement monitoring. While this my seem far fetched look at what some states are trying right now with Real ID.
This being a ID that will be required by all in the near future. And we used to criticize the former Soviet Union. Some states are placing RFID devices embedded within the drivers license (Real ID). Some say readable up to 30 feet which could be increased as technology improves. You’ll have to keep this in a shielded environment if you don’t want to be monitored. This is not paranoia, it’s reality. It has to be assumed that our government is intending to “monitor” us in some form or fashion. Where’s the limit going to be. With the lack of participation by the citizenry in the legislative process as now exists. That’s what’s so scary about all this stuff. Some states are refusing to implement Real ID for a variety of reasons, despite what they may say mostly because of cost, not privacy concerns. Look at how our privacy has been so eroded in recent years and there’s no reason to believe that won’t continue. Congressional hearings have recently been conducted on this matter so if you don’t like what your hearing….better contact your elected officials NOW.
Oh, and as for the Analogue to Digital upgrades.. Want to know how GM feels about that? Basically Jason Moore’s comment of “buy a new one” is how they feel. Basically they say, “Oh, bought your car in 2000 and now the OnStar doesn’t work? Well, sucks to be you, come buy a brand new vehicle!”
OK, I used to work for OnStar so I’ll clear a couple things up..
First off, nobody is spying on you in your car. They can see your location only when you call OnStar, and they only see the location that you were at when you called in, they can’t see where you are going or follow along while your driving or anything like that. And the reason why they can see where you are? Well.. if you ever crash and don’t know where you are, or you are unconscious or something, OnStar will know where you are and be able to send police, ambulance, etc. to your location. Make sense?
Now, Randy, you seem waaaaay to paranoid. You think OnStar is listening to your private conversations? How, might I ask? The only way that would be possible is if you called OnStar, and then decided to have a private conversation while the advisor was still on the line, which would just be stupid on your part. And they also have no way of tracking phone calls you make, or who you call, etc. They do not even keep track of that, and even if you called in requesting that information, they would have no way to be able to find it and give it to you.
As for the minutes being too expensive? $14.99 US for 130 minutes, good for one year with no long distance or roaming fees is too much? OK, the $14.99 deal is only available to you once, but after that its only $39.99 for 100 minutes good for one year. That’s not very much..it equals about $3.33 per month. Wow!
And I think Jason Moore is just on crack, like many other GM employees so I won’t even get started on his comment..
Now once again, I USED to work for OnStar. A a matter of fact I quit because it’s such a stupid place to work, so I have nothing to gain by all this.. I’m just telling you how it is :)
I think the OnStar calling system is a fine idea – however the cost of the minutes is “highway” robbery. Most cell phone plans now have very affordable anytime anywhere minutes – except OnStar. I’ve let my OnStar calling lapse and am much happier pulling to the side of the road to make a call on my cell phone than being overcharged by OnStar.
[...] recent example was the shutdown in February of U.S. analog networks that left subscribers to GM’s OnStar systems whose cars were sold after 2004 unable to upgrade their radios. In the Midwest, Illinois [...]
you screwed the people who got your system up and running this is the thanks we get
I have an 2004 American Coach Motor Home, that when it was Made New it came equiped with the Onstar system (Analog), and I need to know where to get the conversion kit for my Motor Home to (Dgital) Can any one tell me where I can get this Kit.
Fear not to those of you who have Onstar. I have a 2002 Alvanche and I have found onstar useful. Getting lost in West Virginia at night was not fun, but they go me out and home. Being dressed in a suit and having a flat tire and having someone come out to fix it was great. Today I heard of several companies who are working to upgrade the system even for older cars. There must be 2 million or more cars and customers who still use and want the service without buying a new car. My works fine, why spend more money to fix some thing that’s not broke.
I consider that excellent news. I’ve been trying to disable OnSpy since I realized the salesman lied to me and OnSpy was still active (but without a valid subscription) on my ‘03 TrailBlazer.
Every now and then I call OnSpy and harass them about the impossibility of removing OnSpy from my vehicle. What the heck, it costs them a phone call and a bunch of time…
yes, Jason Moore is a moron and his Brothers at the UAW and take this ON STAR and shove it up the ass. The reason all his “Brothers” jobs are going by the way side is because of the “Jason Moore stellar thought process”. He most likely pushs a broom and get $25+, plus benifits to sit on his ass.
OnStar will not even refund unused minutes.
A class action suit must be started to recoup the cost of the on star system that is useless and unused minutes.
Buy a Ford and quit whining
The OnStar system, as useful as it may seem, is just another way for Big Brother to keep an eye on you. Disable it. Don’t buy a car that has it. Get a cell phone, GPS, or whatever. If you’re worried about theft recover, look into another system like Lojack. With OnStar, your exact movements can be tracked, your car can be disabled, your private conversations carried on inside the vehicle can be listened in on, as well as cell calls made with the system. You’re better off without it.
Who cares anyway? The only American car that I have ever owned was an old Chevy and that was many years ago. If I wanted to buy a used car that was almost new or even a brand new car, it would NOT be American made as I have had the opportunity to use many different types as rentals. There wasn’t a decent vehicle among all of them. If you want quality, look at the European models. As a result, Onstar is of no concern.
Jason Moore is obviously joking. I think he’s quite clever but apparently many of you could not recognize his sarcasm. Maybe Jason is British.
I don’t usually respond to blog entries that have little or nothing to do with the initial post but thought that I would share my thoughts about Jason Moore’s comments about older vehicles seeing that I consider myself a reasonable and smart American consumer.
I hazard a guess that Jason is either a car salesman, insurance salesman, autoworker or otherwise financially biased towards buying new for the sake of new when and where used would be the better value.
So here is my 13 cents worth-.
I have a 1994 Ford Ranger I bought new via financing. Now with more than 200k mileage and regular maintenance, it is still running reliably 13 years later. ( Look out 300,000 miles, here I come!!) Anyway, because the vehicle is older and paid for, my insurance is low, excise taxes are the lowest the state allows and this now equates to lower operating costs overall. Averaged throughout the year, less the initial purchase costs, routine maintenance and fuel costs, it works out to approx. $50.00 a month for insurance, taxes and fees.
This Ranger is the last vehicle that I have purchased new. While it’s been a good truck, in hindsight I would have bought used and saved a lot of un-necessary additional expense in finance charges, increased excise taxes, insurance, etc. My desire for new for the sake of “Keeping up with the Jone’s” clouded my ability to judge the merits of cost / value over the long term.
Last April I was looking at a new 2007 Buick Regal. It was real nice, bright, shiny and new with lots of bells and whistles and sure would have helped to keep the IAW workers, insurance companies and the bank real happy had I bought it- But monthly payments aside, the monthly expense for the insurance, taxes and fee’s was going to be significantly higher and would remain that way until the vehicle age exceeded 5 years.
In the end I bought a 2002 Buick Regal that is OnStar equipped but that I never had enabled (and this was the initial draw that got me into this thread). The vehicle had 40,000 miles on it when purchased last April and I paid for it in full. This vehicle costs me more per month for insurance, taxes and fees for this year only because it is less than 5 years old. Next year the costs will be approx. the same as the Ranger. Given the reliability of a well maintained vehicle, I expect to get many years of use out of it.
So my points are these… I fully support buying American (if there really is such a thing as a truly American made automobile anymore) if you are financially in the position to do it. But buy used American if you truly are not in a financial position to be driving the latest bright shiny brand new model of the showroom floor. A properly maintained American brand of vehicle is as reliable as any other brand on the road. New vehicles are nice but from a cost / value perspective they are rarely worth the additional expense for folks like myself that are not particularly wealthy.
Thanks for reading my post.
Jason Moore sez “A reasonable American would never drive a vehicle over 4 years old.”
As a former employee of Ford, I note you had that only slightly wrong. It should read “A reasonable person would never drive an American vehicle over 4 years old.”
My ‘95 Nissan with 172,000 miles runs just fine. And unlike most American cars its age, the Nissan’s interior trim and paint are still in very good condition.
The intrusive OnStar Integrated Spy System is but one reason I would never set foot in a GM Dealership. (Except maybe for an EV1…Damn!)
I have a 2002 pontiac I just purchased, and now I cant even get on star. One of the reasons why I wanted it instead of a different model vehicle was because of its safety capabilities with onstar. Jason Moore is ignorant indeed “get with the times” how about he gets with the times and realizes yo(U) (A)int (W)orkin’ is the downfall of the American car manufacturer. Point proven with Ford laying off mass amounts of people to send the jobs to mexico, costs less down there. you UAW workers demand so much compensation for your work. Unlike the rest of us who have to get an education and work hard for a living to generate an amount greater then 20 dollars an hour.
5-years is too old for a new car? I’m all for supporting American industry and jobs when I can, but the notion that a “reasonable American would never drive a vehicle over 4 years old” is just silly.
But I do believe that every reasonable American owes it to my airline and my union to fly with us at least once a month! May I suggest Christmas in Manila? The bars and the girls are waiting for you!
Get with the times, indeed!
How clever…
As a GM employee, shutting off the older OnStar systems is the best thing to do. A reasonable American would never drive a vehicle over 4 years old. If you have an older vehicle you should see your GM dealer now and get with the times. It is the only smart thing to do. Lets keep the factories busy. Your timely purchase each 2-3 years will help support our brothers in the UAW & keep you up to date.
I own a 2002 Avalanche with about 40000 miles on it. I was not given the opportunity to upgrade, which makes me very angry. One of the reasons I switched to a GM car was the On-Star system, sure makes me want to buy another one. Will something else become outdated on my next car.
I own a 2002 Buick LaSabre with approx. 40,000 miles and was not given the opportunity to upgrade to digital and feel we need it because of our age. Now what do we do? Go buy a new car? Think not. We felt safe with it.
All GM owners were not given an opportunity to get an upgrade. I own a 99 Deville and was told by OnStar that I couldn’t get my car upgraded to digital service. As of January 1, 08 I will no longer have OnStar service. My local GM dealer confirmed this.
GM owners were given an opportunity to get this updated FREE with a $199.00 membership with On Star, which I did…..I now have the updated Phone System…..which works great…
another throw away item ,sounds like they should have a plan to change there system