Onstar Question

Zembonez · September 15, 2007

So, I bought a new truck and it has the funky shark on the roof Onstar built in. Thanks, GM for the ugly addition to my truck.

My question is: Do any of you use your Onstar service? I haven't set mine up and they are hounding me by email and mail to get it done. I intend to tell them to flake off unless somebody can tell my why I need this service. I know it's "free" for a year but I know how to get where I am going and everybody in my family has a cell phone. My next door neighbor cancelled his after the year on his Tahoe... Now they are bugging him to subscribe again. Sheez... drop dead already!

Anybody removed the antenna to see what a mess they leave?

Anybody?

redvett · September 15, 2007

I use it on three of my vehicles and wouldn't be without it. In case of an accident On star will know and get help. We were hit head on in one of our older vehicles(deceased) and police & ambulance came but we couldn't call on our cell phone. If you don't like the look of the antenna just paint it body color.

omegafiler · September 15, 2007

I would actually consider using Onstar if they supported Sprint. Then I could use my current Sprint plan (and minutes) along with Onstar, and use the spify handsfree system already built-in the truck. Of course it would be even better if they just supported Bluetooth!

Otherwise, I'd have no real use for Onstar - at least not enough to justify the cost. Already got Sat Nav and a cell phone.

But I do remember playing with it on my folks 01 Tahoe when they just bought it new. We'd press the button sometimes just say 'Hi." They didn't seem to mind.

hotwheels57 · September 15, 2007

I have it and use it in two of our three GM vehicles. It got us a reduction in insurance since it has GPS for tracking. I like the fact that I get regular messages about the vehicles systems check, remote unlocking, remote diagnostics, and the one year free of navigation.

It's a hands free cell phone, which is much safer and convenient. Just punch one button and its voice activated. You don't have to take your hands/eyes off the road/steering wheel. It puts out more peak power, so it will probably transmit and receive in weaker reception areas better than a hand held cell phone. I like the fact that if the airbag deploys and they get no immediate response from you, emergency first responders are sent.

Regarding what it looks like when you remove the antenna...it's bolted on, so expect a hole in the roof. I don't mind the antenna so much as where they placed it. I wonder why they couldn't have placed in further back and centered. On my wife's Trailblazer, the antenna is a glass mounted mast, like the old cell phone antennas.

I don't think you can paint the antenna and still use it. This got discussed in detail about three weeks ago. Apparently, the paint interferes with the GPS signal. Now, if you don't want to use it, that would be mute.

You're getting the service free for one year. I suggest trying it. If you're like us, we didn't think we'd like it initially, but now we wouldn't be w/o it.

-Devil- · September 15, 2007

i like it for the discount i got over the other truck i was looking at for insurance ... i have also seen a car that was stolen, recovered 3 states away with no damage at all to it .. because of the system ...

i do think the basic price is a bit high, and after the first year i will have to consider about renewing it ... the cell phone, once the minutes i put on it are gone i likely wont renew that part ...

downsides i see to it ... 15$ a month for basic service, ugly antenna, no ability to use bluetooth to use the handsfree cellphone with your exsisting service (that would have made a lot more sense to me) ... and the way it is tied into the factory system ... it should have it's own speaker .. and just a 'mute' wire for the factory setup .. so it isnt such a pain to do an aftermarket system and keep it working.

topdj · September 15, 2007

my friends was onstar expired and his car was stolen, he called onstar on the way to the police station to reactivate and the car was found only a few hours later.

another incident was my mother in law crashed her car the onstar was expired the police were still notified. you can still hit the button and whip out your CC and reactivate while waiting for the police.

only thing you really miss out on are speaking to a live person all the services they have.

we do the same with all our cars I dont pay the fee's

06yxl2500 · September 15, 2007

agree with all the pros... especially with the security of emergency helped being dispatched in the event of an accident.

Zembonez · September 15, 2007

Well, thanks everybody! Great comments. Judging from the responses I think I'll just sign up for the free year and see for myself.

Thanks again for the straight up responses.

BigJayDogg3 · September 16, 2007

When you resubscribe after the free year CALL!!! You get a MUCH better deal that way. When you get more minutes for the phone again the same thing. One would think you would get better prices by going online since you are removing the human element, but XM does the same thing.

07-Z71 · September 16, 2007

I have it , like it for the turn by turn Navi.. works great.... actually like it better then the full NAVI. You don't need to press a lot of buttons for address, etc. Just hit the button and tell them the address,,,,or tell them what type of business you are looking for and they shoot the directions to the truck. i also have Verizon service, so it works with onstar....don't pay for Onstar cell time.

Still not as good as blue tooth.... you have to remember to unforward your phone everytime you leave the truck or you'll miss all calls. Plus, you have no caller ID, and when you call other people, your secondary number appears their caller ID.

asilverblazer · September 16, 2007

How does stolen vehicle recovery work?

I ask, because some authorities, like the one I live in, will not actively search for stolen vehicles, they wait for them to turn up. I imagine this to be the case for most areas. So if my vehicle is stolen and Onstar can locate it do they give that information to me or the police? If they do give it to the police will they actually act on the location given them. If not would Onstar give it (the location) to me and I locate it and call the police to come an dretrieve it, or retrieve it myself... ;)

I know there are a few of us on here in law enforcement what can I reasonably expect from my police in this type of situation?

topdj · September 16, 2007

How does stolen vehicle recovery work?

I ask, because some authorities, like the one I live in, will not actively search for stolen vehicles, they wait for them to turn up. I imagine this to be the case for most areas. So if my vehicle is stolen and Onstar can locate it do they give that information to me or the police? If they do give it to the police will they actually act on the location given them. If not would Onstar give it (the location) to me and I locate it and call the police to come an dretrieve it, or retrieve it myself... ;)

I know there are a few of us on here in law enforcement what can I reasonably expect from my police in this type of situation?

onstar will not give you the info, they only look for vehicals that you file a police report.

this prevents your wife from locating you at your girlfriends LOL

MS3DALE · September 16, 2007

I use both the Hands Free Phone and Turn-by-Turn Navigation features,I love the Turn-by-Turn Nav. I've used it a few times now and I won't be without it!

And Yes,You must file a police report for a stolen vehicle before On-Star will give its location,And they will only give it to the police.

slimjim2525 · September 16, 2007

I use both the Hands Free Phone and Turn-by-Turn Navigation features,I love the Turn-by-Turn Nav. I've used it a few times now and I won't be without it!
And Yes,You must file a police report for a stolen vehicle before On-Star will give its location,And they will only give it to the police.

I'm with you on this one. I have the turn by turn nav as well, and it has gotten me to places that I would never have found on my own. they have even looked for restaurants for me. I swore one time that there was an applebees in west springfileld mass, call onstar and sure enough there isn't one. It works great. It even got me to a hotel in way up north canada which i would never have found. A great feature if you ask me.

ctahoe · September 16, 2007

Perhaps go to http://www.onstar.com/us_english/jsp/index.jsp and educate yourself about all Onstar can do for you. It's a small price to pay for quite a few helpful and possibly life saving features.

So, I bought a new truck and it has the funky shark on the roof Onstar built in. Thanks, GM for the ugly addition to my truck.

My question is: Do any of you use your Onstar service? I haven't set mine up and they are hounding me by email and mail to get it done. I intend to tell them to flake off unless somebody can tell my why I need this service. I know it's "free" for a year but I know how to get where I am going and everybody in my family has a cell phone. My next door neighbor cancelled his after the year on his Tahoe... Now they are bugging him to subscribe again. Sheez... drop dead already!

Anybody removed the antenna to see what a mess they leave?

Anybody?