OnStar SUCKS

[ljones]

Originally Posted by Bill F

Not talking "ish"(nice grown up word, by the way), just pointing out the fact you are all pissy because you lack a full understanding of a product you signed a contract for. And if you haven't noticed, complaining here is getting you no sympathy so you might want to take your complaint up with an angency that may or may not care about your hissy fit.

Who said I wanted sympathy, I started the thread, and I see how some of you reply to things. I'm replying to each of you while I can, because its an interesting debate about what OnStar could or should do.

Pissy, well the babysitter comment returned a pissy remark. the rest, just debate.

"ish", well I did want to curse, so i tried to pick something a bit more user friendly.

[ravensjeff]

There's no experience of safety like feeling confident—even after an auto theft. If your vehicle is stolen, OnStar works with the police to attempt to recover it—swiftly and safely.

[ljones]

Originally Posted by ravensjeff

There's no experience of safety like feeling confident—even after an auto theft. If your vehicle is stolen, OnStar works with the police to attempt to recover it—swiftly and safely.

Dammit Raven, lol. I have no come back for that one...

Maybe... That swiftly reference is a bit BS? And they did note "attempt".

[ljones]

Generally, we will only provide location information about stolen Cars to the police; however, in cases of crises or emergencies, we may, in our own judgment, provide you with information about the general area of your Car without police involvement.

This may be of help to someone in an emergency or crisis.

[MMC]

You do know the phone needs to be on to call the car, right?
If you dont turn it on or the car is not running it will never try to complete the call.

[Bill F]

Originally Posted by MMC

You do know the phone needs to be on to call the car, right?
If you dont turn it on or the car is not running it will never try to complete the call.

That's probably outlined in the OnStar packet that is in the glovebox.

[ljones]

Originally Posted by MMC

You do know the phone needs to be on to call the car, right?
If you dont turn it on or the car is not running it will never try to complete the call.

I was checking to see if the car was out of service, unless thats the default message when the car is off.

What is the default message when the car is off?

[CamaroKid300]

We should go back to when you first posted about parking your car in the garage and I told you that you wouldn't get signal!!

The Satellites move...and the signal weakens...

it isn't onstars fault.

When you get in a wreck and you need it for them to call for an ambulance to save your life....and it doesn't work then.....then talk trash on them.

peace.

[ljones]

Originally Posted by CamaroKid300

We should go back to when you first posted about parking your car in the garage and I told you that you wouldn't get signal!!

The Satellites move...and the signal weakens...

it isn't onstars fault.

When you get in a wreck and you need it for them to call for an ambulance to save your life....and it doesn't work then.....then talk trash on them.

peace.

I tested the signal a few times before I left, so I'm not sure its purely a signal issue. There is no way the battery is dead.

Your comment does raise a question though:
Does OnStar use cell towers only for calls(in my case Verizon) and data, and gps satellites for tracking?

If thats the case, the satellite position would only come into play on tracking a location. Verizon and ATT has a good signal in my condo garage, so the car would still have the ability to show up on the network.

[CamaroKid300]

Originally Posted by ljones

I tested the signal a few times before I left, so I'm not sure its purely a signal issue. There is no way the battery is dead.

Your comment does raise a question though:
Does OnStar use cell towers only for calls(in my case Verizon) and data, and gps satellites for tracking?

If thats the case, the satellite position would only come into play on tracking a location. Verizon and ATT has a good signal in my condo garage, so the car would still have the ability to show up on the network.

I'm pretty sure the phone part may go to an OnStar satellite..then to a cellular provider..

Either way I doubt they would use cell phone towers to triangulate your location...wouldn't be as accurate from what I understand.


^ all assumption so I don't know if its right or not.

[Johnnyma45]

I currently work for a company who supplies telematics to several OEMs, and I can tell you that the Stolen Vehicle Locator service is expressly for that: STOLEN vehicles. You wouldn't believe how many people want us to just find their vehicle and tell them where it is. It's already been covered as to why they don't do this but this is pretty much across all providers. Here's a short example:

Hubby and wife are both on the account. Hubby suspects wife is cheating, asks Onstar to track the car, Onstar provides location, Hubby goes to hotel and murder/suicides everyone. Or less severe, wife finds out Onstar gave location without her consent, and sues Onstar. Similar reasons such as these are why they don't give out locations to anyone but Police. Those special cases they say, in their own discretion? It's for potential police requests or subpoenas, and it's always a case-by-case basis.

[ljones]

Originally Posted by Johnnyma45

I currently work for a company who supplies telematics to several OEMs, and I can tell you that the Stolen Vehicle Locator service is expressly for that: STOLEN vehicles. You wouldn't believe how many people want us to just find their vehicle and tell them where it is. It's already been covered as to why they don't do this but this is pretty much across all providers. Here's a short example:

Hubby and wife are both on the account. Hubby suspects wife is cheating, asks Onstar to track the car, Onstar provides location, Hubby goes to hotel and murder/suicides everyone. Or less severe, wife finds out Onstar gave location without her consent, and sues Onstar. Similar reasons such as these are why they don't give out locations to anyone but Police. Those special cases they say, in their own discretion? It's for potential police requests or subpoenas, and it's always a case-by-case basis.

Damn cheaters, lol. I totally understand why they don't. Doesn't help when you are in the small (honest) percentile that could use such a feature.

[MMC]

Originally Posted by ljones

What is the default message when the car is off?

No default message, phone never connects to anything including a ring signal, all I hear is dead silence then a disconnect.

[Shu71]

If I park mine in the garage sometimes my app can not connect to the car. Even sometimes if I park next to this building at work, it says it can not connect. But if the car is out in the open it connects no problem. Is the reason you can not connect to the car by phone app because it is out of the view of the satellite or whatever they use to communicate with the car? Also if the app can not communicate with the car, then they might not be able to either. They may only be able to see the last time their service updated your car???? Is there anyone you can contact, neighbor, buddy or whatnot who could drive by and see if it is still there for you?