Onstar Subscriptions - Second Question Added

mjj · December 24, 2015

I think the biggest benefit of the onstar minutes and data is reliability. Lets face it in the middle of nowhere a satellite connect is fsr superior than a cellaur tower connection. Other than that I don't see much advantage as you guys are right. About 70% of mobile phone users now have smartphones and these phones also require data connections.

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From what I understood onstar no longer uses satellite service. I thought they used AT&T's cellular network. That's how they can offer the 4G hotspot.

My smartphone can do pretty much anything onstar can beside the automatic contact emergency personal in a crash I suppose. I'm not going to pay multiple providers for overlapping services. Same reason I did not subscribe to the SiriusXM radio.

When our kids were infants we had it in my wife's Acadia for greater peace of mind but that was only for a few years.

Our car insurance company said we'd get an extra discount if we had it but that ended up being less than a months cost of onstar. Again just not worth it to me.

crafferty · December 24, 2015

From what I understood onstar no longer uses satellite service. I thought they used AT&T's cellular network. That's how they can offer the 4G hotspot.

My smartphone can do pretty much anything onstar can beside the automatic contact emergency personal in a crash I suppose. I'm not going to pay multiple providers for overlapping services. Same reason I did not subscribe to the SiriusXM radio.

When our kids were infants we had it in my wife's Acadia for greater peace of mind but that was only for a few years.

Our car insurance company said we'd get an extra discount if we had it but that ended up being less than a months cost of onstar. Again just not worth it to me.

Ohhhh, well in my opinion thats quite a big hit then if that's true. I was trying to be the guy filling the glass half full but without a satellite connection this glass has a hole in it!

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dave07 · December 24, 2015

I wonder if it's a stronger cell antenna than our cell phones.

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mjj · December 24, 2015

Haha I hear ya. Always good to get the good with the bad. But even the satellite connection was not bullet proof. I think it was worse for connecting when in garages etc if you were trying to get your doors to unlock. I remember that not working for my wife once when she accidentally left em on the seat and lock the car door. The navigation part ticked me off about 8 yrs ago too. We were heading up into Canada for some fishing, above Michigan, and the navigation took us on a "shortcut" which ended up being a winding hilly road that turned to dirt after about 8 miles or so with like 30 more miles to go. I was not happy about towing my new boat down a dirt road in the middle of the night. Then to top that we lost connection and it would not reestablish the remainder of the trip. I guess Canadians don't even get satellite signals up there. Lol. Ok, now you got me on a rant. I had just about forgot about that event. To say the least I've never been a big fan I guess.

dalinspect · December 24, 2015

In 2010 I had the free trial of turn by turn navigation and it took me in all the wrong directions just like my Garmin GPS, recalculating recalculating on and on. I don't have Bluetooth so i like the cellular minutes and that is about all i like. I only have the 35 dollar a month plan for piece of mind like others have also mentioned. I am going to cancel that 35 dollar a month plan and just travel like the majority of the world without it. I wonder if OnStar will let me purchase my 100 minutes a month for 12 bucks if i don't pay for the 35 a month protection plan. 12 bucks would be better than 47 a month.

Jernik · December 24, 2015

According to their website, to purchase minutes you have to have a subscription. Data can be bought without a subscription, but in some data groups they will charge you more without the subscription.

https://www.onstar.com/us/en/plans-pricing.html

bertiman · December 24, 2015

In 2010 I had the free trial of turn by turn navigation and it took me in all the wrong directions just like my Garmin GPS, recalculating recalculating on and on. I don't have Bluetooth so i like the cellular minutes and that is about all i like. I only have the 35 dollar a month plan for piece of mind like others have also mentioned. I am going to cancel that 35 dollar a month plan and just travel like the majority of the world without it. I wonder if OnStar will let me purchase my 100 minutes a month for 12 bucks if i don't pay for the 35 a month protection plan. 12 bucks would be better than 47 a month.

I've been running some side by side tests with my iPhone's directions and Onstar.... I find the iPhones directions superior. In fact, I've been completely baffled by the recommended routes Onstar has provided.

I do like the idea of Onster's security plan. However, it is very expensive, especially for a service, that if all goes well, I would never use.

dalinspect · December 24, 2015

I've been running some side by side tests with my iPhone's directions and Onstar.... I find the iPhones directions superior. In fact, I've been completely baffled by the recommended routes Onstar has provided.

I do like the idea of Onster's security plan. However, it is very expensive, especially for a service, that if all goes well, I would never use.

I have been paying 420 a year at 35 month for 5 years. Yes it's expensive and im not sure if the piece of mind is worth $2100.00. So, i guess Onstar should update their maps and recommended routes for the Turn by turn navigation. I have not used it since my free trial 5 years ago. I wonder if it is when an airbag is deployed that they would send an emergency vehicle to your location or how that exactly works.

Eddie 70 · December 24, 2015

I thought the advantage to using Onstar as a cell phone was that it was like a 3 watt output whereas a cell was about a .25 watt output. Never the the less, I have never kept Onstar active for more than the trial period.

I see some of you guys are saying that you get an advertisement once the trial runs out upon startup!! That is ridiculous. I hope this is something that can be turned off.

doverarjim · December 25, 2015

My onStar has been off for about a year now without a word from them!! Last night I got an email from them offering 3 months for $45.00 for the Protetction plan and 30 min a month. This is just a little higher that I had said I would pay but I might take them up on it before the offer ends 1/1/16.

dalinspect · December 25, 2015

My onStar has been off for about a year now without a word from them!! Last night I got an email from them offering 3 months for $45.00 for the Protetction plan and 30 min a month. This is just a little higher that I had said I would pay but I might take them up on it before the offer ends 1/1/16.

That's 1/3 what i pay. I should call OnStar and try to receive that pricing. That deal is Probably not available in Canada. I bet.

Badass69 · December 25, 2015

This stuff would not be useful to most posters but I kept the data plan.... but just the 10GB for 365 day one. I might buy the lowest minutes phone plan too for this same reason once I lose my 6 months of free plans. For where I live even with a booster in the truck my cell phone does not work where the Onstar data does..... not even remotely close. My phone will long be at a circle with a line through it and the I have yet to lose connection on the truck. I live in Northern Alberta and obviously AT&T works better than my Telus junk does lol. If I lived where you have cell coverage over every square inch of the country ( look at a map of the continental US and see what I mean lol) I wouldn't use it either. Not to mention you guys in the States get unlimited data plans too for cheap...... we can't even buy that here more or less lol. I just use it to stream music mostly..... spottify is what I use. Pandora and stuff like that doesn't exist here unless i want to fake a US IP.

For the rest of it.... I don't use it. I might keep the Security one but that's about it. The turn by turn is useless.... Onstar people don't even know where Alberta is lol.

bertiman · December 25, 2015

My onStar has been off for about a year now without a word from them!! Last night I got an email from them offering 3 months for $45.00 for the Protetction plan and 30 min a month. This is just a little higher that I had said I would pay but I might take them up on it before the offer ends 1/1/16.

What's the pricing/commitment after the 3 months?

Adamrg · December 25, 2015

I looked a few times months ago trying to weigh my options of whether or not to keep after the trial- but to me, the website just left me confused.

Does anyone know if I have to keep an onstar subscription to have the wifi, and if so, what's the cheapest onstar plan?

Stex · December 26, 2015

I wonder if it's a stronger cell antenna than our cell phones.

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No. On my 09 my ATT cell works where the onstar is no signal even after they went to ATT for carrier. Dropped 0nstar and picked up AAA. OnStar good for one thing, a wreck esp if you run off the road and no one sees etc...IF your battery survives,