OnStar Renewal (Again)

unit731 · January 31, 2012

OK. There are a multitude of OnStar postings.

OK. Some love it some hate it.

And yes a good cell phone and a good GPS does the same.

This topic is about my call to OnStar today. I telephone and pressed Number 6.

I advised nice lady that I thought OnStar was too expensive. In a short time I was offered OnStar and Directions and Connections for an annual rate of $148.92. I requested that no credit card be used. I will mail in a paper check for the annual charge. All went smoothly.

OnStar

Directions and Connections

Annual fee $148.92.

And I probably could have received some discounted minutes if I was more pushy. But I was satisfied with what I got.

Next up will be XM satellite radio.

unit731 · January 31, 2012

Just finished with telephone call with XM.

The first person would not budge. So I stated - cancel. Then I was upgraded to a higher level. Here I was offered 6 months of XM for 43.05. I requested to pay by check. There is a $2.00 fee to pay by check. So for six months and pay by check it is $45.05.

I suppose I could have attempted to obtain the full year at the $77.00 rate. I have read that others got 6 months for $24.99.

Morgan1986 · January 31, 2012

So explain how on star works . is it sat or cell waves ? With a GPS system you get a map most onstar is just a button with a voice on the other side .... can you use it like a regular phone? or is it cheaper to just buy a GPS unit and a pay as you go sat phone and keep that hidden in the truck untill you need it . Why dont you like useing credit ? I like credit just pay it off right away on line and build your credit rating up and get points to spend on airline tickets . I would love sat radio if i was on the road alot like a truck driver but besides that I dont think it would be worth the money. we use sat radio when commercial fishing its nice to stay in touch with the world that way with news and things and comedy late at night when your on the wheel .

MikeNH · January 31, 2012

OnStar uses cell towers for voice/data transmission and GPS for vehicle location. You can use OS as a phone and if you need directions you call them, speak to an agent and they can either find the address (if you're looking for say a certain restruant) or if you have the address they can send it to the truck and it will display on the radio along with voice guidence (computer, not a person). Sat phones cost hundreds, if not thousands of dollars so no, this would not be cheaper. As for GPS, depends. I like not having any extra crap on the dash/windshield so I've kept the OS navigation. I did order the nav deck lots of other guys have so once I get that I'll dump the OS directions and just keep the crash response.

doverarjim · February 1, 2012

OK I need to post here so in 5 months when my service is up I can find this post and remember what to do to get a good deal!! I don't plan on using any of it much but like I have said before "better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it"

Morgan1986 · February 1, 2012

http://www.globalcomsatphone.com/satellite/services/globalstar.html

sat phone rates . same phone we use on the comercial fishing boat ....... shitty service tho on the west coast .

00Silverado4x4 · February 1, 2012

I keep the service going on mine for piece of mind. I bought the truck in Alaska for hauling the travle trailer and the first time we were out in, literally, no where Alaska the phone option had service even when my cell phone did not. Few times we needed to make a call and was the ONLY option. The minutes aren't cheap by any means but very handy for the quick chats and not "suppose" to drive and talk on cell phone.

MikeNH · February 1, 2012

http://www.globalcom...globalstar.html

sat phone rates . same phone we use on the comercial fishing boat ....... shitty service tho on the west coast .

Globestar sounds like it's doing poorly. But I didn't realize how inexpensive they can be. Inmarsat is under $600 to get ya started. Something like that would be handy to keep in my go bag for emergency situations when the cell network is overloaded. Or taken out entirely.

Morgan1986 · February 1, 2012

http://www.globalcom...globalstar.html

sat phone rates . same phone we use on the comercial fishing boat ....... shitty service tho on the west coast .

Globestar sounds like it's doing poorly. But I didn't realize how inexpensive they can be. Inmarsat is under $600 to get ya started. Something like that would be handy to keep in my go bag for emergency situations when the cell network is overloaded. Or taken out entirely.

does inmarsat use the same sats as glowbestar ? becuase its so unrealible on the west coast . its almost useless to have .

Dave4x4 · February 1, 2012

Thats a great deal on the onstar. I just got a reminder today that mine will be up in 4 months or so and the prices they had for the year for the basic was 199 and the direction upgrade one was 299. I'll have to do this for sure when it gets closer.

MikeNH · February 1, 2012

http://www.globalcom...globalstar.html

sat phone rates . same phone we use on the comercial fishing boat ....... shitty service tho on the west coast .

Globestar sounds like it's doing poorly. But I didn't realize how inexpensive they can be. Inmarsat is under $600 to get ya started. Something like that would be handy to keep in my go bag for emergency situations when the cell network is overloaded. Or taken out entirely.

does inmarsat use the same sats as glowbestar ? becuase its so unrealible on the west coast . its almost useless to have .

No they're a different company with their own satellites. The best is Irridium but you pay for that and I really don't think I'll be finding myself on the north pole anytime soon. I'd just like one to have if I travel to a remote place here in North America or to be able to communicate in the event something happens that takes out traditional communication networks.

SouthCo · February 1, 2012

OK I need to post here so in 5 months when my service is up I can find this post and remember what to do to get a good deal!! I don't plan on using any of it much but like I have said before "better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it"

Dont worry they will contact you. Onstar and XM have called and mailed me deals ever since my free subscriptions ended. They have offered me some pretty good deals from what I see posted but I don't like XM and dont need Onstar.

unit731 · February 1, 2012

So explain how on star works . is it sat or cell waves ? With a GPS system you get a map most onstar is just a button with a voice on the other side .... can you use it like a regular phone? or is it cheaper to just buy a GPS unit and a pay as you go sat phone and keep that hidden in the truck untill you need it . Why dont you like useing credit ? I like credit just pay it off right away on line and build your credit rating up and get points to spend on airline tickets . I would love sat radio if i was on the road alot like a truck driver but besides that I dont think it would be worth the money. we use sat radio when commercial fishing its nice to stay in touch with the world that way with news and things and comedy late at night when your on the wheel .

I like OnStar in case I get into an accident. As a young driver I used to zip around all of the old folks as they sometimes drive too slow. Now as an older person the young drivers are ziping around me. Either way is a potential accident. Then there are the tourists of any age that are just about to miss an exit and jamb on their brakes in any lane and will swerve in front of anyone or any vehicle.

Credit cards are personal preference.

With a credit card OnSar and XM automatically continue or renew and at the full retail rate. So if you don't keep a good calendar and forget you may end up paying full retail at end of any time period/subscription. With a check payment type they still may renew you at current retail rates but they do not have your money until you pay them.

When my time comes for renewal I do an internet search and read up on forums to see what others are paying. XM in some places is $77.00 per year. But you have to usually state that you are quiting/canceling XM and your phone call goes to a higher level where deals can be made. Sometimes it may take mulitple calls to obtain a good satisfactory deal/price. There are many that just find this difficult to do - and those folks pay full retail.

The process is the same with OnStar. Directions and Connections in many GM vehicles just a voice prompt for directions. But it is more as one can ask where the nearest Home Depot or Wallymart. And off you go.

I use both as I drive across country twice per year. I also have an older Garmin GPS.

One trip from back East to Arizona I used both simultaneously at times. In Colorado one had me get off highway about 100 miles outside Denver and take state roads through Colorado and New Mexico while the other had me go directly through Denver. Having been through Denver during rush hour I decided to take the state roads and avoid Denver.

But back to the credit cards. I just don't like too many companies having my credit card on file. And I don't like automatic renewals with the credit card - not knowing what I am paying.

Morgan1986 · February 1, 2012

thanks for the awsome reply

SouthCo · February 1, 2012

Funny.... I just checked my email and yet another xm offer. They are turning it on for free from 2/1 to 2/14 and I can subscribe for $25 for 6 months. No thanks. I'm not worried about Onstar saving me in an accident. When's the last time you were the only car on a road. Not where I live at least. I'm not knocking it. If it makes you feel better when you drive, by all means get it. I don't see me getting a "life alert" to wear around my neck when I get old either. If I fall down in my house, alone, I guess I'll be in trouble.