Installing Bluetooth Onstar (OEM) For Hands Free Phone (Easy, Cheap)

[aldaran]

Originally Posted by saabsonic

Pendragon... this discussion sounds way too complicated... What you need is a 2010/2011 Camaro with the leather seat option (2LS/2SS) which has the OnStar module WITH Bluetooth, so you can use your own cell phone, forget OnStar's hands free (which also works great, but uses its own Verizon cell #, and requires an active OnStar subscription. If you have such a vehicle, just push your phone button and first say "Bluetooth." But IF NOT, and you have a lowly 1LS, or 2SS model with those dreaded CLOTH seats I(my preference) then your only option is to find a used Bluetooth capable OnStar ("VCIM") module from a wrecked 2010/2011 Camaro and install it in your car. The much easier option is a "BlueStar" module from a company called CoStar, but as yet their module isn't working properly with the new (2010) Camaros.

You have your packages confused. First set should be (2LT/2SS) and later on it should be 1LT or 1SS.

[mike.nite]

I was lucky and found a BT Onstar module on ebay. Installed it yesterday. Works!

But how can I activate voice recognition/ talk to the unit without steering wheel controls (don't have mine activated at the moment)? I found out that you can dial via the radio knob on the left side - but I'd prefere voice dialing.

I also couldn't save/acces the PB (phonebook). It says that the PB is not available.

Could this be because I didn't acitvate onstar?

[jeepguy_1980]

Originally Posted by mike.nite

I was lucky and found a BT Onstar module on ebay. Installed it yesterday. Works!

But how can I activate voice recognition/ talk to the unit without steering wheel controls (don't have mine activated at the moment)? I found out that you can dial via the radio knob on the left side - but I'd prefere voice dialing.

I also couldn't save/acces the PB (phonebook). It says that the PB is not available.

Could this be because I didn't acitvate onstar?

The BT doesn't have it's own phone book. I find it annoying that you can have an OnStar phone book, but not a blueooth phone book. To use voice dialing, you have to have the steering wheel controls and a phone that supports voice dialing via bluetooth.

You press the voice button, say bluetooth, then say voice.

[mike.nite]

Thanks jeepguy,

So can I use the Onstar phonebook without having onstar activated? Because I didn't activate onstar after installing the new module (just swaped it). I don't want onstar anymore but I would like to use the cars phonebook.

[jeepguy_1980]

Originally Posted by mike.nite

Thanks jeepguy,

So can I use the Onstar phonebook without having onstar activated? Because I didn't activate onstar after installing the new module (just swaped it). I don't want onstar anymore but I would like to use the cars phonebook.

No. OnStar has prepaid calling plans and I was saying that only OnStar calls can use the built in phonebook. I have OnStar activated in my car and I cannot use the built in phonebook for bluetooth calls. It's rather annoying.

[mike.nite]

Originally Posted by jeepguy_1980

No. OnStar has prepaid calling plans and I was saying that only OnStar calls can use the built in phonebook. I have OnStar activated in my car and I cannot use the built in phonebook for bluetooth calls. It's rather annoying.

Got you - the phonebook is just for Onstar calls. Thats disapointing.
Now I realy hope that my iPhone 3G S supports voice dialing via the cars bluetooth.

[Nutbutt]

The iPhone voice dial is supported by the onstar bluetooth. Just press and hold the iPhone select button till voice command screen comes on. At that point the radio is muted and you then can say call name then type of number. Phone will then dial!
Works great for me, you won't even need to look at the phone after a few times.

[jeepguy_1980]

Originally Posted by Nutbutt

The iPhone voice dial is supported by the onstar bluetooth. Just press and hold the iPhone select button till voice command screen comes on. At that point the radio is muted and you then can say call name then type of number. Phone will then dial!
Works great for me, you won't even need to look at the phone after a few times.

That doesn't sound like BT dialing. To access BT voice dialing:

• Press the Voice button on the sterring wheel
• Say "Bluetooth"
• Say "Voice"

Then you will be using the bluetooth voice dialing menu.

[mike.nite]

Originally Posted by Nutbutt

The iPhone voice dial is supported by the onstar bluetooth. Just press and hold the iPhone select button till voice command screen comes on. At that point the radio is muted and you then can say call name then type of number. Phone will then dial!
Works great for me, you won't even need to look at the phone after a few times.

I can't acces the iPhone voice dial by pressing the "select button". It seems like you need the steering wheel buttons to use voice commands.

So if you do not have the steering wheel controls (and deactivated Onstar account) you can only recieve phonecalls and dial via the odd select button.

[Nutbutt]

You can voice dial your Iphone through the bluetooth connection to your phone. I was not referring to the onstar cell which needs the steering wheel controls to voice dial as shown in the video.

[mazin_23]

Facing the same problem dude....i bought my car 2 months ago....guess u are from MES??

[mike.nite]

Solved my problem.

You do need steering wheel controls to acces the onstar bluetooth.
If you don't have the steering wheel controls you can't use all of the onstar modules bluetooth options.

If you do not have the steering wheel controls you have two possibilities:

- upgrade your steering wheel + BCM:
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...steering+wheel

- Use your phones BT/voicedialing features. For the iPhone users: Only iPhone 3GS or newer supports voicedialing from factory. If you have a 2G or 3G you can download a app called: Vocalia (from Creaceed).
Keep in mind that you'll need to push the iPhones home button everytime you want to activate the iPhones voicedialing (no matter if you use 2G, 3G, 3GS or 4G)

[jeepguy_1980]

Originally Posted by Nutbutt

You can voice dial your Iphone through the bluetooth connection to your phone. I was not referring to the onstar cell which needs the steering wheel controls to voice dial as shown in the video.

The video was not using the OnStar cell, it was using my phone, via Bluetooth.

[Nutbutt]

You cannot do voice dialing through the onstar system and your cell phone without the steering wheel controls. The Iphone has its own voice dialing function which when activated cuts off the stereo system and lets you voice your command. Again this is for the people without the steering wheel commands but have a BT onstar module. I believe this was the original question on how to voice dial without the steering wheel controls on an Iphone.