2006 OnStar & Hands-Free Phone feature
#1
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Member Since: Jun 2001
Location: Katy Texas
Posts: 20,246
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2006 OnStar & Hands-Free Phone feature
I was setting up OnStar in my car today and came across an issue. As as has been discussed recently, 2006 now has the dual-mode OnStar system so you can use your Verizon account for cellular minutes, etc. But, what seems to be missing from the Corvette's OnStar package is the hands-free mute button.
Without the mute button, there isn't any way to dial additional digits for things like voice mail or other tone driven menu systems. And without mute, you can't really use the hands-free phone for conference calls because the car's microphone pickup of the road noise would be constant.
I spoke with the OnStar folks who didn't know, and they transferred me to the OnStar folks that manage the hands free phone system. They didn't know, so they conferenced in the Chervolet assistance folks. They both looked very hard, but did not find anything about the existence of a mute feature.
So, have any of you other 2006 owners found a mute button with their OnStar system, or is this something the Corvette engineering team just overlooked?
Without the mute button, there isn't any way to dial additional digits for things like voice mail or other tone driven menu systems. And without mute, you can't really use the hands-free phone for conference calls because the car's microphone pickup of the road noise would be constant.
I spoke with the OnStar folks who didn't know, and they transferred me to the OnStar folks that manage the hands free phone system. They didn't know, so they conferenced in the Chervolet assistance folks. They both looked very hard, but did not find anything about the existence of a mute feature.
So, have any of you other 2006 owners found a mute button with their OnStar system, or is this something the Corvette engineering team just overlooked?
#3
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Member Since: Jun 2001
Location: Katy Texas
Posts: 20,246
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#4
Drifting
I purchased 100 minutes to call out via Onstar today for about $17.00 for a year. The Onstar rep said the digital upgrade equipment to allow you to get a phone number and receive calls is available now. But you have to have your dealer order and install the equipment, and you have to sign a 3 year contract. Too bad it wasn't digital to start with.
#6
Race Director
Member Since: Sep 2004
Location: Franklin, Tennessee NCM Life Member #1631
Posts: 10,348
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cruise-In VI, VII & XII Veteran
St Jude Donor '07-'08-'09
Originally Posted by wanta06
Only the 05 models have the analog only OnStar units. The 06 models come with analog/digital units already installed.
I was told by OnStar that my 05 C6 is equipped with analog/digital ready equipment. Thus the reason for the upgrade to digital. The last e-mail I received from OnStar said that the upgrade would be available in Jan 06. Anyone heard different?
#7
Burning Brakes
Originally Posted by chadwick
I was setting up OnStar in my car today and came across an issue. As as has been discussed recently, 2006 now has the dual-mode OnStar system so you can use your Verizon account for cellular minutes, etc.
How can you use your Verizon account with the OnStar phone? I have an 05 that has the analog/digital ready setup. When I called OnStar last spring, they told me it had to be a digital system in order for it to work. Not a digital ready. I'm pretty sure the 06 has the same set up?
Please let us know how you got Verizon in the loop. Did you go through OnStar or Verizon for this? I have a Verizon cell phone and would love to combine the two.
#8
Racer
Originally Posted by wanta06
Only the 05 models have the analog only OnStar units. The 06 models come with analog/digital units already installed.
#9
Burning Brakes
The 05's have analog/digital ready unless you've had digital installed after your purchase. Digital ready means exactly what it says. It's ready to accept a digital unit but does not have one. You can't use your Verizon minutes with onstar until you have the digital unit installed.
I do not know if the 06's have the digital unit installed from the factory but I know for sure that my 05 doesn't.
From the Onstar Website:
All OnStar-equipped vehicles have one of three types of equipment:
Analog-Only: OnStar-equipped vehicles with analog-only equipment were designed to operate only on the analog wireless network and cannot be upgraded for digital network compatibility. Vehicles with this equipment will no longer be able to receive OnStar services beginning January 1, 2008. At that time, service will be available only through dual-mode (analog/digital) equipment. Analog-only vehicles cannot be upgraded to digital equipment.
Analog/Digital-Ready: OnStar-equipped vehicles with analog/digital-ready equipment operate on the analog wireless network, but were designed to be upgraded to dual-mode (analog/digital) equipment when available for that vehicle. Beginning January 1, 2008, OnStar service will not be available on these vehicles unless the OnStar equipment has been upgraded to dual-mode (analog/digital) equipment.
Dual-Mode (Analog/Digital): OnStar-equipped vehicles with dual-mode (analog/digital) equipment operate on both the analog and digital wireless networks and will not require an upgrade in connection with the wireless industry's transition to the digital network.
I do not know if the 06's have the digital unit installed from the factory but I know for sure that my 05 doesn't.
From the Onstar Website:
All OnStar-equipped vehicles have one of three types of equipment:
Analog-Only: OnStar-equipped vehicles with analog-only equipment were designed to operate only on the analog wireless network and cannot be upgraded for digital network compatibility. Vehicles with this equipment will no longer be able to receive OnStar services beginning January 1, 2008. At that time, service will be available only through dual-mode (analog/digital) equipment. Analog-only vehicles cannot be upgraded to digital equipment.
Analog/Digital-Ready: OnStar-equipped vehicles with analog/digital-ready equipment operate on the analog wireless network, but were designed to be upgraded to dual-mode (analog/digital) equipment when available for that vehicle. Beginning January 1, 2008, OnStar service will not be available on these vehicles unless the OnStar equipment has been upgraded to dual-mode (analog/digital) equipment.
Dual-Mode (Analog/Digital): OnStar-equipped vehicles with dual-mode (analog/digital) equipment operate on both the analog and digital wireless networks and will not require an upgrade in connection with the wireless industry's transition to the digital network.
#10
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Member Since: Jun 2001
Location: Katy Texas
Posts: 20,246
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In 2006 the OnStar unit is Dual-Mode Analog/Digital, and has changed since the 2005 model.
EDIT: I did actually verify this with the OnStar folks.
EDIT: I did actually verify this with the OnStar folks.
Last edited by chadwick; 10-08-2005 at 09:30 PM.
#11
Team Owner
Okay, two posts have said that the 05 is analog/digital, but it only accepts digital if you get it upgraded. Is anyone else confused by this?
That to me is like saying my car is 400/500 horsepower, but it's only 500 if I go out and have it upgraded.
That to me is like saying my car is 400/500 horsepower, but it's only 500 if I go out and have it upgraded.
#14
Racer
Member Since: Dec 2004
Location: Las Vegas Nevada
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was at the GM "Auto Show in Motion" (recommended) in Las Vegas this past Thursday and talked to the woman at the OnStar booth. I said that many of you on this forum report that the OnStar phone to be analog only, but she looked in a book and said it's analog/digital ready. I argued with her (on our behalf) a little more and she called a colleague in Detroit who said we are wrong, it's analog/digital ready.
She said when they upgrade the Corvettes to digital, a digital phone receiver will have to be installed in the car (somewhere in the back or under the dash, she didn't know), replacing the analog unit.
She's also going to send me an email confirming all of this and if she does, I'll post it.
Gregg.
She said when they upgrade the Corvettes to digital, a digital phone receiver will have to be installed in the car (somewhere in the back or under the dash, she didn't know), replacing the analog unit.
She's also going to send me an email confirming all of this and if she does, I'll post it.
Gregg.
#15
Drifting
Originally Posted by TN 2005 C6
wanta06,
I was told by OnStar that my 05 C6 is equipped with analog/digital ready equipment. Thus the reason for the upgrade to digital. The last e-mail I received from OnStar said that the upgrade would be available in Jan 06. Anyone heard different?
I was told by OnStar that my 05 C6 is equipped with analog/digital ready equipment. Thus the reason for the upgrade to digital. The last e-mail I received from OnStar said that the upgrade would be available in Jan 06. Anyone heard different?