OnStar can't handle cold days!

[nuclearxp]

It may have to do with the path and latency and path/partnerships between wireless carriers, your wireless network (ISP), and the service login provider OnStar uses.

[MNDaveC]

It may have to do with the path and latency and path/partnerships between wireless carriers, your wireless network (ISP), and the service login provider OnStar uses.

Why would the OnStar app be so sensitive to this, where other apps are fine? App code has too short of a timeout or something?

[nuclearxp]

from what i understand they had two consecutive days of highest logins/usages of the app since it was introduced. in the IT world, for mission critical systems you load test at double peak of whatever your highest assumed load is. to build a system to take that and not go down takes 2/3/4x the cost of designing a regular service.

 

i would wager the system wasn't spec'd to handle such a a rapid and concurrent increase in usage, e.x. if the entire US temperature suddenly dropped to 5F out, then obviously 10x more folks would use their app at 3-6PM M-F than they normally would. the system was never designed for such a scenario. i'm sure they're adjusting the capacity based on weather and usage trends

[bdbake01]

I bet the 5 year remote convenience has really up the active user set as well.

[CaptainCanuck]

A little off topic but when I signed the paperwork for my truck there was one concerning returning the truck for an update for on star, which I assume was the 2G to 4G update.

 

I finally read the FAQ from the onstar site and the cost for this update to owners was "yet to be determined".

 

Asked my dealer when this update was to be rolled out and he didn't know anything about it.

 

Anyone have any more info or point me to a thread that already covers this? Thanks.

 

Drive safe.

[waumo1]

This is an example of why I consider all these type systems a convenience item and not a necessity or safety system - because in a situation where you really need it, it will likely not work. A few years ago we had a major storm and although the cell towers all survived and were "operational" you could forget making a call because the systems were swamped for days.

 

Strangely, our old antiquated land line telephone worked just fine.

[Newell33]

Another cold day in the Midwest, and another OnStar remote start failure. Anyone else having issues today?

[sharper]

The fact that their app doesn't work when the weather is bad makes me wonder if their service will work when I'm in an accident. Seriously? This app is a marketing tool by design and they're not exactly winning me over to believe that after my trial that they can deliver safety. What if you crash during a massive snow storm when many other people have crashed and also need assistance?

[bdbake01]

I think those are two different systems. One makes money, one takes money to run. U do the math on which one is more robust and functional.

 

I agree though, a crappy billboard doesn't usually make me want the product more.