December 21 - 4:15pm EST Some car owners and other users of General Motors' OnStar service may find themselves in trouble this February, the Associated Press notes. As of February 18th, the FCC will allow GM to halt the analog version of OnStar, in a bid to make its network all-digital. The difficulty is that while the approximately one million OnStar cellphones can be replaced, some cars built as late as 2005 can only access OnStar via analog signals, and have no support for GM's $15 digital upgrade. Meanwhile, some home alarm systems with OnStar must default to a backup connection without analog.
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BLACK ATTACK
12/23/2007 11:00:40 AM
OnStar is not going anywhere!!! What is going away is the OLD Analog OnStar system. The newer models using digital system have nothing to worry about. So old cars using the analog service will lose their OnStar, 04 & 05 car owners can upgrade to the digital. Older cars can buy the new digital equipment and reactivate. That is also new... OnStar can now be installed on all brands.
rj
12/23/2007 11:08:12 AM
Ah. It's only the older version of OnStar.
So the cars/trucks built after 2005 are fine.
RocknSS04
12/23/2007 11:44:24 AM
My '04 Intimidator SS got upgraded late this summer, so he's all set for another year. Gone DIGITAL!
Cowboy6622
12/23/2007 12:10:33 PM
yeah.. my gradnfather flipped over this too.... OnStar is still around... even though if you got a cell phone you most likely won't need it.
2000LS
12/23/2007 12:33:44 PM
i think cell phones make it about worthless too, i think more often its just piece of mind. which is why i think old ppl seem to be the ones most concered with losing it. it can do a little more than a cell phone though.
i would imagine onstar is a theft deterent, sure it can be disabled, but its that much more work for someone stealing it to do.
and sending help after airbag deployment... cause i probly wont be dialing
RocknSS04
12/23/2007 12:48:52 PM
Been there, done that airbag thing with an '01 Impala. I passed out from having the flu and being dehydrated, while on cruise. My car got skinny between the LARGE tree and the telephone pole, after going thru a corn field and jumping a road. I DEFINATELY had a Guardian Angel looking after me.
As long as I'm driving 2 hours a day commuting, I'll have Onstar active.
Taz
12/23/2007 1:50:18 PM
My Monte came with the analog system, but I never activated it. Since I usually keep a cell phone with me in the car, I was wondering if it was even worth my while to get the digital system and activate it. But now that I read this thread, I guess I should just save my money then.
Wayne,
That is some story you told. Glad you weren't hurt.
SolaraSlayer
12/24/2007 2:04:26 PM
Even my company's radio powered credit card reader will be canceled this Februrary when the whole system goes digital.
Updated:12/21, 4:15pm, ESTmacnn: tag: OnStar Bookmark this page now or subscribe to RSS feed for this tag. 