Onstar

[Dudesky]

Sitting in my new Chevy Colorado trying the 90 day Onstar package that has Wifi, up at my cabin. Seems to work pretty good.

Anyone know if you can get a portable sat link with wifi?

I know you can link through a wireless setup. But that's iffy up here.

[tbomachines]

Do you mean receive the same data via a GPS signal? I think it only goes through cell signal. BTW those new Colorados seem great (albeit big).

Also one bit of advice -- if you decide to cancel onstar or satellite radio do not provide a real phone number. Between the two I was getting 3-4 calls A DAY, siriusXM was worse but they were both on the verge of harassment.

[spdrun]

Originally Posted by tbomachines

Also one bit of advice -- if you decide to cancel onstar or satellite radio do not provide a real phone number. Between the two I was getting 3-4 calls A DAY, siriusXM was worse but they were both on the verge of harassment.

"I cancelled service for a reason. Do not ever call again. Further calls will be reported to FTC as criminal harassment." *click*

Cathartic. But yeah, Google Voice rocks. Bonus points if you record the following message. "Dear telemarketer -- you've reached this number because I've given it to the company that's paying you, since I do not actually want you to reach me. Whichever service you're pushing, you'll only end up reaching this recording and will never get a human. Please direct all further inquiries to the Federal Trade Commission's hotline at ... ... ..... Thank you and buh bye."

[tbomachines]

Originally Posted by spdrun

"I cancelled service for a reason. Do not ever call again. Further calls will be reported to FTC as criminal harassment." *click*

Cathartic. But yeah, Google Voice rocks. Bonus points if you record the following message. "Dear telemarketer -- you've reached this number because I've given it to the company that's paying you, since I do not actually want you to reach me. Whichever service you're pushing, you'll only end up reaching this recording and will never get a human. Please direct all further inquiries to the Federal Trade Commission's hotline at ... ... ..... Thank you and buh bye."

I actually reported them twice as no call list violations. I don't know how those are handled but I did report them. After I finally got siriusxm to stop calling the first time they started again about a month and a half later from a different (local) number.


Sent from an abacus

[spdrun]

Originally Posted by tbomachines

I actually reported them twice as no call list violations. I don't know how those are handled but I did report them. After I finally got siriusxm to stop calling the first time they started again about a month and a half later from a different (local) number.

It's possible that they switched telemarketers and the new ones didn't get the memo.

[Skid Row Joe]

Congratulations on your new truck, Dudesky!

Satellite Internet and WiFi equipped no-less!

[Dudesky]

Originally Posted by elchivito

They're watching you, you know.....

Haven't slept since "Enemy of the State' came out.

Originally Posted by tbomachines

Do you mean receive the same data via a GPS signal? I think it only goes through cell signal. BTW those new Colorados seem great (albeit big).

Also one bit of advice -- if you decide to cancel onstar or satellite radio do not provide a real phone number. Between the two I was getting 3-4 calls A DAY, siriusXM was worse but they were both on the verge of harassment.

They were touting the Wifi at the dealer but only mentioned Tablets and such. I wanted to see if it would hook up. It did.....it goes through a satellite antenna, so even if its a cell, it must use a sat.

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

Dude, it's a cabin. Why on earth would you want to be connected there???

I was actually bummed when I saw that I had 4 bars of signal at our ME camp.

Fortunately there's an off switch and a drawer to put it in, although I do check it for messages and my email before dinner.

The cell towers are easy 5 miles through the trees, and the trees mess with comm's on windy days. Couple friends live up there and have Dish internet as the phone service doesn't have internet. I leave my phone by the window if anyone calls.

I just wanted to see if it worked.....better half jaw dropped and her eyes narrowed when I told her I posted from the truck.

It would be nice on vacation on the road for looking up local sights, restaurants and venues.

[spdrun]

Originally Posted by Dudesky

They were touting the Wifi at the dealer but only mentioned Tablets and such. I wanted to see if it would hook up. It did.....it goes through a satellite antenna, so even if its a cell, it must use a sat.

On*Star has a satellite antenna for GPS. Not for Internet. The antenna is reception only for GPS signals.

There's a simple way you can check this for sure. Connect to the wifi. Go to www.whatismyip.com. Enter the shown address into something like www.ip2location.com. Chances are, it will say that it's using the ATT mobile network.

[Dudesky]

Originally Posted by spdrun

On*Star has a satellite antenna for GPS. Not for Internet. The antenna is reception only for GPS signals.

There's a simple way you can check this for sure. Connect to the wifi. Go to www.whatismyip.com. Enter the shown address into something like www.ip2location.com. Chances are, it will say that it's using the ATT mobile network.

Found an article on it, you're right. Makes me wonder though, right now the leaves are down and reception is real good. I've had problems when everything is green and on windy days with my cell.
I was just checking it out under my ninety day thing, I doubt I'll subscribe.
The boss isn't too keen on surfing beside the fire pit.

[davidmash]

We just got a '14 C250. We have had the Mbrace trial and I think we are going to keep the basic MBrace for $280 a year. I like the idea of the SOS and road side assistance for the wife. The GPS input is not the most convenient so using the MB app on the android makes sending address to the car very easy.

[elchivito]

They're watching you, you know.....

[spdrun]

If I ever got a car with On*Star spyware, first thing I'd do is take a pair of hedge clippers to the antenna cable. Spyware in my car that can't be turned off and that can turn my car off or unlock it remotely? No fawking thanks.

To answer your question, On*Star only uses satellites for GPS signal. It gets its internet/WiFi connection through the cellular network. If you exceed 90 days, you'll be paying to essentially duplicate the functions that your cell phone can do. (Interestingly, most phones these days have accelerometers, so they could even be set up to call 911 in case of a car crash.)

So if the WiFi works in your vehicle at your cabin, you should be able to find a phone or hotspot that talks to the cell network and provides the same level of service. The cost and latency of satellite shouldn't be needed. New On*Star vehicles apparently use AT&T, so I'd try to find a modern hotspot that uses their network and experiment at the cabin.

[catmandoo62]

Originally Posted by spdrun

If I ever got a car with On*Star spyware, first thing I'd do is take a pair of hedge clippers to the antenna cable. Spyware in my car that can't be turned off and that can turn my car off or unlock it remotely? No fawking thanks.

ditto that.i also wish i could disable the key fob at will short of taking the fuse out.now that the crooks have gone hi tech and can just walk by your car where ever it might be and use their little frequency scanners to unlock the doors.

[spdrun]

Originally Posted by catmandoo62

ditto that.i also wish i could disable the key fob at will short of taking the fuse out.now that the crooks have gone hi tech and can just walk by your car where ever it might be and use their little frequency scanners to unlock the doors.

Somewhere, there's an antenna that can be unplugged or isolated.

[MTI]

Originally Posted by spdrun

Somewhere, there's an antenna that can be unplugged or isolated.

Says the member that posts on an open internet forum, from a non scrambled or encrypted device, through an ISP. . .