Do I want On Star in my new car?

[Bill Cotton]

I posted the text below to a gps news group earlier; I have learned
that On Star can be had bundled with an In-dash system or not. what is
the added cost for either system.
===========
My 1992 Subaru is at half life, 150k miles. Thoughts of a replacing
the L
wagon with a new Outback is a consideration.
I have a Garmin II+ and eMap and considering a 60cs as an upgrade from
the
eMap that I use most on my bicycles. I use the Garmin II+ in the car
with my
Libretto before built-in map were available.
http://www.billcotton.com/tripmate.htm
I envision getting direction from On Star means asking a operator how
to
get from here to there. While I would hack On Star, once the free
year was
up, I wonder if this is worth the trouble.
I also don't want to have the Garmin 2610/2650 exposed on the dash.
what should a longtime gps user do?

 

[John Varela]

I also don't want to have the Garmin 2610/2650 exposed on the dash.
what should a longtime gps user do?

Remove the 2610 and put it in the glove compartment when parking in places
where you don't want it in view.

 

[nfisherman]

We took delivery on our new OB yesterday. You don't get directions
from OnStar with the basic (free) service. To get the level of
service that includes directions, it's $39/month, or something like
that. I don't think you could hack OnStar because you have to provide
the operator with an active account number in order to get service.

I have a Magellan GPS. I don't think OnStar will replace it.

After the free year, the basic service which includes road service and
emergency support when airbags deploy, etc. costs $199/year.

 

[null]

Your not actually 'hacking Onstar'. You're taking the Onstar computer
module out of the car, soldering wires onto it so that you
can get the GPS signal off of it. You then wire this to a serial connector
and hook your laptop to it.
It's all right here: http://openminds.net/onstar/

Why would you want to do this? Because you can. If I had Onstar in mine I
would do it. For further ideas
head over to mp3car.com to see what us technogeeks are doing with
computers in cars.

 

[tonyrama]

We took delivery on our new OB yesterday. You don't get directions
from OnStar with the basic (free) service. To get the level of
service that includes directions, it's $39/month, or something like
that. I don't think you could hack OnStar because you have to provide
the operator with an active account number in order to get service.

I have a Magellan GPS. I don't think OnStar will replace it.

After the free year, the basic service which includes road service and
emergency support when airbags deploy, etc. costs $199/year.

$200 a year?!?! No wonder GM's losing money on it. You do know that AAA cost
only $60 a year for the highest service level, and that gets you a whole lot
of triptiks, plus towing, roadside assistance, maps, and more.
Tonyrama

 

[Bill Cotton]

We took delivery on our new OB yesterday. You don't get directions
from OnStar with the basic (free) service. To get the level of
service that includes directions, it's $39/month, or something like
that. I don't think you could hack OnStar because you have to provide
the operator with an active account number in order to get service.

Some have; http://www.openminds.net/onstar/ I don't think I would have
the courage to do this until the third or fourth year. It seem that
the most that this hack gets is a good antenna location and the uses
of a GPS head, a laptop computer is needed and that will have to be
put away when you park. I already have that.
http://www.billcotton.com/tripmate.htm
I did drill to install a trailer hitch the first week on the current
Subaru.
Thanks for the cost information. Look like I will pass on On Star.

 

[nfisherman]

Sorry, I admit that I'm digitally impaired. I missed the point about
hacking OnStar.

I agree that OnStar is too expensive. I wouldn't buy it either if I
had the option. I think that I read somewhere that OnStar is standard
now on all 6 cylinder Outbacks. Anyway, it was on the one that we
bought. I wouldn't have taken it if it had been an option. I doubt
that we'll pay for it after the free year is over.

I have road service coverage on my car insurance for about $10/year.
I use Mapquest to get directions before I leave home. OnStar has
various levels of service that range from $200/year up to about
$800/year. They're all too expensive in my opinion. The only cool
thing about OnStar is that they can unlock your car remotely if you
lock your keys inside. That feature isn't worth the cost.