Analog OnStar customers offered free year of service
A few months back we informed you that many current OnStar subscribers will soon be cut from GM's communications network. The reason for the loss of OnStar service dates back to 2002, when the FCC decided that to by January 1st, 2008, all analog networks would have to be shut down, so there could be only one standard -- digital for all.Since all the OnStar-enabled vehicles built between 1996 and 2002 were analog only, the 500,000 customers that still subscribe to OnStar will lose service. For owners of 2002-2004 vehicles with analog OnStar, GM made changes to the OnStar hardware so a digital adapter kit could be installed at a later date. The adapter kit can be put in for $15, provided the customer ups for an additional year of service.
For the owners of OnStar-equipped vehicles built between 1996 and 2002, there isn't anything that can be done to fix the problem, so GM is gifting up one year of free OnStar service on the customer's next newer OnStar-enabled vehicle. We don't know how many customers will purchase new vehicles just to continue using OnStar, but we have a feeling owners that are stuck with a dead blue button probably won't want to hear the commercials where OnStar saves the day.
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
derrrrrrrr 9:38AM (3/23/2007)
So.. how may people are going to blame GM for something that the government is ultimately the fault of the federal government? I would suspect a lot of people here would. Let the bashing commence.
Reply
DuckFat 9:52AM (3/23/2007)
This shutting down of the analog networks is a travesty. The FCC is simply bowing to the wireless companies. There are thousands of square miles of the country that will lose cellular service because of this decision. This is a huge safety issue for me as I go to back country areas where analog is the only option for miles. People will DIE because of this bad decision. They should only allow a switch to digital when 100% of the analog area-only areas are covered.
Reply
Rick Lyon 10:01AM (3/23/2007)
I don't understand why they just can't make an adapter for the older units? GM does deserve bashing for that and I'm not an owner. Don't blame the government, blame technology. Blame consumers. Blame the need to expand, grow and do more and see more. As for your government whine, they are helping in the TV area with a coupon for a free converter. Sorry they can't help GM retrofit an adapter......
Reply
DriftPunch 10:09AM (3/23/2007)
Attention occupan..er..citizens of the United States. We are your federal overlords. Shut up, pay your taxes and continue to let us manage your lives. That is all until your next briefing...
Reply
Mike 1:45PM (3/23/2007)
DuckFat: Are you serious? Analog networks are a cancer on the ass of the American consumer. Digital service contains more information, creates less interference, is less susceptible to interference, is more secure (I could go on but wont) and will ultimately result in better service and more features and lower prices for everyone.
No one is going to DIE because of the loss on analog signal, I don't even know what that means...
Reply
Jeff 1:56PM (3/23/2007)
We're from the government and we're here to help you.
Reply
Lithous 2:11PM (3/23/2007)
"No one is going to DIE because of the loss on analog signal, I don't even know what that means..."
I think it is pretty obvious what he means. There are many areas of the country analog exists in that digital doesn't (and was stated as such). Well, if one is hiking or something (or anything, just walking around, living and say has a heart attack or something) where only an analog tower ever existed then guess what? Someone may die. Because no digital tower to complete an emergency call.
You'll probably be one of the first to attempt to bring litigation against someone if you found out that an analog tower was turned off and your family member was driving through a remote area to get somewhere and couldn't get help because no digital tower around.
How about this analogy after you went on and on about how much better digital is than analog (because I think we all already understood that): You go back in time with just an HD-DVD disc. It could be the best HD ever but what good is it 20 years ago if no one has a player or the technology to make a player? Digital cellular can be the best but if it doesn't exist in an area where there is no tower it does you absolutely no good. It may as well be the worst technology on the planet for that time and location.
Reply
RBW 3:41PM (3/23/2007)
"This is a huge safety issue for me as I go to back country areas where analog is the only option for miles. People will DIE because of this bad decision."
What did you do before there was analog service? Did you die? No? Well, just keep doing that then.
Reply
Lithous 3:54PM (3/23/2007)
"What did you do before there was analog service? Did you die? No? Well, just keep doing that then."
Yeah, because as time goes on people NEVER get MORE health problems that they DIDN'T have BEFORE. Situations do CHANGE. I don't see why having a usable system be turned off if no other viable system is in place is an unreasonable suggestion. Are you people so against the analog existence working for the cell phone companies or are you just bored out of your mind and decide to write kiddy replies?
I drove down this road 500 times and no one ever hit me... I shall then declare that it is impossible for it to ever happen! Is that the logic we are dealing with? I mean did DuckFat get in an accident before in a remote area and almost die? Didn't see that written. Can you guarantee that will never happen? Is looking more than 5 minutes ahead smart or stupid? Gee, I can see at least two people who would chose the latter.
I guess some people have to have things happen to them before they get it.
Reply
Lithous 3:58PM (3/23/2007)
Let me rephrase that: I don't see why having a usable system be left on if no other viable system is in place is an unreasonable suggestion.
Reply
al 6:27PM (3/23/2007)
"I don't understand why they just can't make an adapter for the older units? GM does deserve bashing for that and I'm not an owner"
Because the older units are not modular.
Reply
Prop_blu 4:50PM (3/23/2007)
Yeah "mike" sometimes people do..
Two years ago my buddies and I were on hiking in NH mountains and we had a petrified couple come up to the picnic area telling us that they just came across a serious motorcycle accident(severe blood loss, major lacerations, etc.) a little way down the road and they didn't have medical training or a cell phone and wanted to get help. There must have been about 80 people in that picnic area when that couple pulled up and most of us had cell phones--and not one of us could get a signal because all of them were these "all digital" pieces of bullshit. Yeah you can watch TV on it TXT, PIX, CLIX, FLIX and all other kind of usesless ass crap but when phone just needed to F___ing work? Nope sorry.. It was an hour back to the nearest land phone, so some us with some medical skill volunteered to go back to the scene while people who were leaving promised to stop at the nearest available area with a land phone. We were there, I had broken my toe that same day on the trail and I got off easy, there for hours beore EMS came.
Would an analogue phone have work? Maybe.. I'd say probably because my old Tri-band worked in the upstate NY and in Ontario without much dificulty
I hope that you "mike" or no one else has to wait 4 hours for medical assistance because of a dead zone in the year 20XX when almost every goddamned person has a phone but has to stand around and watch you suffer, you knee-jerk, ignorant asshole.
Reply
akatsuki 11:03AM (3/26/2007)
So the rest of us continue to subsidize your choice in living in the middle of nowhere. And then you complain about government interference? It was a government handout that you got you covered in the first place.
Reply
rotary_key 2:02AM (3/27/2007)
You don't have to go hiking to see this problem. I drove cross country on Rt 80 from SF to Ohio and there were large stretched where the only signal I had was Analog.
#13. It was government subsidy and enforced duopoly that got everyone covered in the first place.
Reply
Brad 8:16AM (4/27/2007)
The issue is not what type of service OnStar uses, it's GM commitment of continued service and support to their existing customers. Todays digital service will also be replaced at some point with something else (ie. satphone). GM could if it wanted too make retofit kits or replacement units available at a reasonable price. I will not buy another GM based product because of this issue.
Reply
Paul 10:19PM (5/08/2007)
I own a 2002 Suburban with On-Star and this is one of the affected vehicles. I was notified via the mail - twice - so I contacted my attorney. I think this is BS on GM's part that they can't fix it. I might be willing to split the cost as well.
As for the whiner in the blog that says we need to get over the anolog thing I can tell him I have been where no digital and some analog phones wouldn't work but my On-Star did and that is why I am a user. Digital will never.... never have the coverage that my current On-Star has.
We need to come togehter on one site and file a class action suite against GM. All they need to do is fix the issue. There are too many people out there that might have bought another make/model but because the GM vehicle had On-Star they chose to go GM.
Just remember when you have air bag deployment On-Star is notified as part of deployment. Come 1/1/08 that goes away. Can you say lawsuit.
Paul
Reply