OnStar rant...

Mongo

Mongo

Joined
Nov 5, 2001
Messages
8,969
Hey all, I've recently been informed that OnStar will no longer function in my vehicle after December 31st 2007 due to some kind of FCC ruling in which cellular carriers will not be required to support analog networks. Guess what? The hardware for OnStar in my 2002 Chevy Avalanche is analog and CANNOT (or is it will not?) be converted to digital. My Chevy dealer has confirmed this, says there is not any kind of replacement or conversion. My question is: WHY NOT? I'm sure something can be done. Why isn't there a replacement module or something that can be retrofitted into wherever the onstar thingy is on my vehicle. In effect, this decreases the value of my vehicle for resale. And is this supposed deadline of Dec 31st of 2007 really going to be the absolute? Did the world implode at Y2K? I mean, what will really happen on Jan 1st of 2008? Will cell phones cease to work?
Damn, I am pissed. (off to find a rabid bob-cat. gonna sandpaper it's behind in a phone booth)
 
At the end of this year, cellular carriers have the option to discontinue analog service. Eventually, all will. Some will be waiting for the stroke of midnight to pull the analog equipment and replace it with digital. Others who still have a lot of analog customers will cling to their analog equipment longer. Most likely, urban areas will be in the prior category and rural in the later.

But, if OnStar can't deliver its service to all of its customers, they would probably prefer to discontinue it to all.

Mercedes-Benz is offering an upgrade to its TeleAide customers. I haven't decided if I'll do it. TeleAide is pretty much worthless; at least every time I've used it it has been a huge disappointment. But, I like the monitored security alarm, monitored airbag, and stolen vehicle tracking features.

My advice is to get on the various forums and start agitating among OnStar customers to demand that they ofer an upgrade. You might even talk to an attorney about the possibility of a class action lawsuit since you were sold the vehicle on the premise that this service would be available and its discontinuation does dramatically reduce the resale value of your car.
 
By the way, this FCC ruling is nothing new. The FCC made this ruling back in 2002 and it was well-published within the trade. So car makers have no excuse for cars made after 2002.
 
I'm suprised that OnStar wasn't digital in 2002. Weren't digital cell phones the standard five years ago?

-Bob
 
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