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Onstar is an
option that is not specific to Saab. It is a feature
for many GM vehicles. The basic premise is that it is an
integrated
cellular phone. You can access a variety of services
with it,
including where to get good Thai food in you area, the
nearest gas
station, unlock your car doors, or a 911 emergency
operator. You
can learn all you want about it at Onstar's
website.
As far as availability, the system is a North America
based system,
so only the US & Canada can have this service since it
is based on
satellites & a CDMA-based cellular communications grid.
The current
provider for this service is Verizon.
In our vehicle, the main components that make up the
system are as
follows:
-Microphone in the overhead console
-Onstar control panel by the dashboard cupholder
-Antenna on roof (built-in GSM telephone & GPS)
-Steering wheel controls
-Existing vehicle audio system
-Onstar box in trunk under the parcel shelf.
Since the vehicle has this telephone system, Saab
extends the
functionality to include telephone features in the
radio. So you
can set address books with names & numbers. If you wish
to contact
these numbers, Onstar will route the call for you. You
cannot use
any other service other than Onstar. Even though Verizon
carries
the call, it is routed through the Onstar service. An
additional
charge and package is required for this service.
There have been many questions regarding the wisdom of
removing the Onstar box if you are not subscribing.
There are many reasons for keeping it, and a few good
ones for removing it. The choice is
yours. If you do successfully remove it, please let me
know!
There is also the question of turning the existing
Onstar box with
a Tel2 box, which will enable you to insert a SIM card &
use your
own phone carrier/plan. This has also not been done. If
you
successfully do this, please let me know!
As far as retrofitting your non-Onstar vehicle with
Onstar, it would
be a project of nightmarish proportions. You would need
all the
things listed above, including wire harnesses,
programming, and who
knows what else. |
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S=Standard for this
model
O=Option available from
the factory
R=Option not available
standard or from the factory, but is retrofittable.
blank=Option not
available standard or from the factory, and is not
retrofittable. Or info not available. |
