Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Dazzler on 15 January 2008, 20:43:00

Title: OnStar?
Post by: Dazzler on 15 January 2008, 20:43:00
Can someone what OnStar is, how it works what it does etc.. please.
When i press the ONStar button it says something like not activated.
TIA.
Title: Re: OnStar?
Post by: Entwood on 15 January 2008, 20:49:37
All the info on the LATEST version of onstar is here ....

http://www.onstar.com/us_english/jsp/explore/onstar_basics/helpful_info.jsp?info-view=tech_equip

you may have to search a bit for the older version info ...  :)

but the FAQ's give a bit

http://www.onstar.com/us_english/jsp/explore/onstar_basics/faq_popup.jsp

My guess is you come under this one ...

Quote
Analog-Only:
OnStar-equipped vehicles with analog-only equipment were designed to operate only on the analog cellular network and there is no digital upgrade available. Vehicles with this equipment will no longer be able to receive OnStar services beginning January 1, 2008. At this time, service is available only through dual-mode (analog/digital) equipment. (Refer to Question #7 for additional details.)

That is based on the fact that my 1999 Elite is only analogue telephone and is limited to Vodafone and some other SIM card ...
Title: Re: OnStar?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 15 January 2008, 21:04:27
If it were an analogue mobile phone it wouldn't work at all these days.

Does OnStar get transmitted over the mobile phone network or the VHF broadcast band?

Kevin
Title: Re: OnStar?
Post by: VXL V6 on 15 January 2008, 21:53:33
Quote
That is based on the fact that my 1999 Elite is only analogue telephone and is limited to Vodafone and some other SIM card ...

Nope, phone is GSM 900Mhz (Vodafone / O2) digital as it uses a SIM card, what the CCRT700 doesn't work with is PCN 1800Mhz (Orange / T-Mobile).

Analogue was the old TACs and later on ETACS network.  :y
Title: Re: OnStar?
Post by: Dazzler on 15 January 2008, 22:07:31
My CCR700 works with my Vodaphone card with no probs. When i press the OnStar button on the radio then i get the message on the MID. If i press Phone then i can use as normal.
Title: Re: OnStar?
Post by: VXL V6 on 15 January 2008, 22:17:35
Onstar was simply a link to GM/VX, by integrating the phone into the head unit it allowed GM/VX to locate you via GSM / GPS positioning (On Nav equipped cars) and interogate your ECU for the fault codes.... Big brothers paperclip if you like. Once they got that information they could arrange for the nearest dealer to come out with a crank sensor required part to fix your car.

They were going to do a voice guidance navigation system but Sat Nav become so cheap to install it became a non-starter.

Title: Re: OnStar?
Post by: Dazzler on 15 January 2008, 22:20:34
Quote
Onstar was simply a link to GM/VX, by integrating the phone into the head unit it allowed GM/VX to locate you via GSM / GPS positioning (On Nav equipped cars) and interogate your ECU for the fault codes.... Big brothers paperclip if you like. Once they got that information they could arrange for the nearest dealer to come out with a crank sensor required part to fix your car.

They were going to do a voice guidance navigation system but Sat Nav become so cheap to install it became a non-starter.

Thanks :y
Title: Re: OnStar?
Post by: Entwood on 15 January 2008, 22:24:12
Quote
Quote
That is based on the fact that my 1999 Elite is only analogue telephone and is limited to Vodafone and some other SIM card ...

Nope, phone is GSM 900Mhz (Vodafone / O2) digital as it uses a SIM card, what the CCRT700 doesn't work with is PCN 1800Mhz (Orange / T-Mobile).

Analogue was the old TACs and later on ETACS network.  :y


Thanks for the info .. you learn something new every day on this site .. :)

THis is all I can find on UK OnStar .. bit old now I think ..

http://www.carsource.co.uk/news-Vauxhall-Vectra/The-On-Star-Navigation-System/3000121
Title: Re: OnStar?
Post by: VXL V6 on 15 January 2008, 22:36:58
Quote
THis is all I can find on UK OnStar .. bit old now I think ..

http://www.carsource.co.uk/news-Vauxhall-Vectra/The-On-Star-Navigation-System/3000121

That's it down to a T!

I think GM had / have grand plans for it, the possibilities are quite good actually, if you can GPS / GSM track a car then you could use that information for fleet managers or even to guide police to a stolen vehicle.

However, if you want to disable it all you have to do is rip the headunit out..... and as all head units pull out with a set of £2.99 keys from Halfords then your average car thief needn't be too concerned!

Title: Re: OnStar?
Post by: Entwood on 15 January 2008, 22:41:30
The link I put up in post #1 has the latest bumpf from USA ... seems it is going ahead big style there .. including automatic accident reporting stuff .. !!
Title: Re: OnStar?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 15 January 2008, 23:44:18
Mmm. Sounds a bit Big Brother to me. Of all the people I wouldn't want to pick me up if I'd broken down... ::)

Kevin