Android Auto incompatible with OnStar Data plans
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Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 69
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Android Auto incompatible with OnStar Data plans
I have the OnStar Premium with unlimited data thinking it would save me from using up my phone's own cellular data. However, when connecting Android Auto wirelessly, the phone will not use the OnStar data via the car's hotspot. Instead the phone uses it own data. You can see this at startup when the phone first connects to the car's hotspot, it will have Internet access. Then as soon as AA connects, the WiFi on the phone looses all internet and falls back to using its cellular data. A Google search suggests this is a flaw in AA and no solution available except to not use AA wirelessly.
I was hoping someone on the forum might have a solution, but if not, I thought people should know if they pay for one of the OnStar plans that include "unlimited data".
I was hoping someone on the forum might have a solution, but if not, I thought people should know if they pay for one of the OnStar plans that include "unlimited data".
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 742
I have the OnStar Premium with unlimited data thinking it would save me from using up my phone's own cellular data. However, when connecting Android Auto wirelessly, the phone will not use the OnStar data via the car's hotspot. Instead the phone uses it own data. You can see this at startup when the phone first connects to the car's hotspot, it will have Internet access. Then as soon as AA connects, the WiFi on the phone looses all internet and falls back to using its cellular data. A Google search suggests this is a flaw in AA and no solution available except to not use AA wirelessly.
I was hoping someone on the forum might have a solution, but if not, I thought people should know if they pay for one of the OnStar plans that include "unlimited data".
I was hoping someone on the forum might have a solution, but if not, I thought people should know if they pay for one of the OnStar plans that include "unlimited data".
That being said, I have to imagine getting an unlimited data plan through your cellular provider would be far cheaper than getting unlimited wifi through OnStar. And you’d have it with you everywhere, not just the vehicle.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 317
Likes: 264
From: East Coast
Unmodified C8 of the Year 2021 Finalist
I believe it has to do with the way AA and CarPlay connect wirelessly. Mainly they connect via the vehicle wifi to perform the wireless connection. Try connecting via cable and see if that works.
That being said, I have to imagine getting an unlimited data plan through your cellular provider would be far cheaper than getting unlimited wifi through OnStar. And you’d have it with you everywhere, not just the vehicle.
That being said, I have to imagine getting an unlimited data plan through your cellular provider would be far cheaper than getting unlimited wifi through OnStar. And you’d have it with you everywhere, not just the vehicle.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 69
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Seems like it should still be doable. The C8 hotspot should be like the WiFi router in a house. It creates an internal network that multiple devices can connect to and then "talk" with each other. The WiFi router then also connects that internal network to the internet through an ISP. In the C8, OnStar is the ISP and the hotspot is the WiFi router. Should be just like two computers talking with each other on the house WiFi while they both can also talk to the Internet.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 317
Likes: 264
From: East Coast
Unmodified C8 of the Year 2021 Finalist
Wireless Android Auto isn't using wifi in the traditional routing sense. It uses the technology for wireless display. If it was doing normal routing, I'd agree with your proposal. I dont think this will be fixed until phones start shipping with two wifi chips (probably never sadly.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 474
Likes: 127
From: Stafford Virginia
Do you have WiFi calling enabled? I would think if you are ultimately using the hotspot WiFi and the internal phone WiFi drops off that feature would resort to using that method if available which means you're not using cell service. Just a thought.
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