GM Onstar

[James L. Lee]

Anybody have any more specfic information about Onstar being terminated in 2008? Paper article was confusing giving dates for the analog termination. Do 2007 or 2008 have the newer digital system? My RL is a 2007...does it have the newer digital system? Will it cost me to upgrade/update? If I want to continue Onstar?

[kwayne]

the article I read said that everything from '05 forward is digital

[Grandpa]

You can check the status at ONstar by inputting your VIN. Mine says it is dual analog and digital.

[kwayne]

here's what I read: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22362058/

[XTC]

Originally Posted by James L. Lee

Anybody have any more specfic information about Onstar being terminated in 2008? Paper article was confusing giving dates for the analog termination. Do 2007 or 2008 have the newer digital system? My RL is a 2007...does it have the newer digital system? Will it cost me to upgrade/update? If I want to continue Onstar?

YOU ARE DIGITAL NO NEED TO DO ANYTHING
ENJOY

[SKYRCKT]

What a bummer. If you read the article, GM and ONStar sent a $500.00 coupon towards the cost of a new car to this person that complained about the analog service being terminated.

Gee, $500.00 is less than the buy incentives that most dealers offer...how generous!

[MidniteBlues]

My 07 Sky built in June/July 06 has the latest digital phone service, if I recall, it is a version 7. My 03 H2 had the analog system. I received 2 or 3 warnings from OnStar about its demise and that they would replace the module for free if I sign a 1 year agreement when it is replaced. I did that, the dealer charged $15 for the labor which required tearing apart the console to get to the module, costs? $214.95. Took 2 trips, because altho they replaced the module, the dealer only had 1 guy that knew how to program it, took him 5 hours to do while being in constant contact with OS tech support, perhaps I was their first one, I donno. Bottom line however is, it is not as sophisticated as the Sky's OS, it does not send me the monthly maintenance numbers or status, AND does not tell me how many minutes I have left with the cell phone. Other than that, it works identically..

[XTC]

Originally Posted by MidniteBlues

My 07 Sky built in June/July 06 has the latest digital phone service, if I recall, it is a version 7. My 03 H2 had the analog system. I received 2 or 3 warnings from OnStar about its demise and that they would replace the module for free if I sign !!!!! a 1 year agreement when it is replaced. I did that, the dealer charged $15 for the labor which required tearing apart the console to get to the module, costs? $214.95. Took 2 trips, because altho they replaced the module, the dealer only had 1 guy that knew how to program it, took him 5 hours to do while being in constant contact with OS tech support, perhaps I was their first one, I donno. Bottom line however is, it is not as sophisticated as the Sky's OS, it does not send me the monthly maintenance numbers or status, AND does not tell me how many minutes I have left with the cell phone. Other than that, it works identically..

didn't know what they were doin'!!!!!!!

[Leather]

Originally Posted by MidniteBlues

does not tell me how many minutes I have left with the cell phone. Other than that, it works identically..

I have a 02 Avalanche and I did not get offered $500 toward a new GM All that Onstar offered me was 1 extra year free Onstar for my new GM. My 02 is only Analog so I will be losing my Onstar sometime before Feb 08 but I was always able to find out how many minutes I had left by pressing the white button and saying "Units" it would then ask me "verify or add" I would say "Verify" and it would tell me how many Units(Onstar lingo for Minutes) I had remaining. I had heard that in 04 GM vehicles started to get Analog/Digital Onstar so these people are able to migrate to the new Digital world.

[marlboromike]

Original SKY owners do not worry...since I have one of the first made (Vin#1414) they r both analog and digital...this thread can now be shut.

[Antonio]

Hopefully i can shed a little light on the subject, as the cable tv industry is also following suit and being affected for the same reason.....not money as many may think....but it's the FCC. They want to clear up air waves. Analog signals take up lots of MHz in the frequency ranges, where as about 8-10 digital video signals can fit in the same space....and about 15-20 Digital audios can fit in the same space as the normal analog. So yeah, it's not our fault....it's the FCC. Right them angry letters about how cable ready tv's are going to be all snow in about 2 years time, maybe less.

[Rail Jockey]

Originally Posted by Antonio

Hopefully i can shed a little light on the subject, as the cable tv industry is also following suit and being affected for the same reason.....not money as many may think....but it's the FCC. They want to clear up air waves. Analog signals take up lots of MHz in the frequency ranges, where as about 8-10 digital video signals can fit in the same space....and about 15-20 Digital audios can fit in the same space as the normal analog. So yeah, it's not our fault....it's the FCC. Right them angry letters about how cable ready tv's are going to be all snow in about 2 years time, maybe less.

This is also affecting cellular phones, those hold outs that have stayed with analog phones will soon be losing service unless they upgrade. At least thats the case around here.

[Antonio]

Originally Posted by Rail Jockey

This is also affecting cellular phones, those hold outs that have stayed with analog phones will soon be losing service unless they upgrade. At least thats the case around here.

yep, forgot about phones. And since it's mandated by the FCC, they're Federal, so it'll be everyone, not just some areas.

[MidniteBlues]

Originally Posted by Leather

I have a 02 Avalanche and I did not get offered $500 toward a new GM All that Onstar offered me was 1 extra year free Onstar for my new GM. My 02 is only Analog so I will be losing my Onstar sometime before Feb 08 but I was always able to find out how many minutes I had left by pressing the white button and saying "Units" it would then ask me "verify or add" I would say "Verify" and it would tell me how many Units(Onstar lingo for Minutes) I had remaining. I had heard that in 04 GM vehicles started to get Analog/Digital Onstar so these people are able to migrate to the new Digital world.

Yes, that is still true with both my onstar vehicles. BUT on the Sky I get a monthly email with the "vehicle status", and actually tells me how many minutes I have left when the car yaps at OS. 02 Avalanche is a nice truck, I'm sure you can get OS to pay for the module replacement if you "pre-pay" one year onstar service like I did for the H2. Phone service is over & above that basic $199 charge to replace the module. Haven't you received any mail or emails regarding the expiration of analog and what there offer is to update?? If your going to keep your truck like I plan on keeping what I have, I would get the upgrade, but wife & I knew we be keeping our magic carpet ride for quite a few more years, that is why we did it. Since she drives it as much as the Sky, both of them must have OS, for security mainly, hands free phone secondly and of course the other benefits..