2024 on lockdown
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,250
Likes: 938
From: Wisconsin
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 12,812
Likes: 10,229
From: Garden Valley CA
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 185
Likes: 76
From: Pa
I tried using my phone hot spot, but of course that didn.t work, on my 2023 Suburban and those sucks. Need data plan for certain basic features to work including posted speed limit indication in the heads-up display. My 2023 Corvette still had all features 24 corvette is following the Suburban plan, pay as you go. Next, you'll have to have a subscription for the heated seats, AC and power windows to work. This whole idea of subscriptions ****... me off, pretty pathetic for a $90 K to a $100K vehicle. Plus, they don't tell you any of this when you buy the vehicle. Time to move on from GM
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,037
Likes: 520
From: Texas
Nope, all of that, voice control, HUD navigation updates, NAV, etc all work fine without a subscription if you use Android Auto or Car Play. The only thing I have found so far that does not work is starting google assistant via voice. IE 'Ok Google' command. You have to press the voice button to start. Seems that one could be fixed with an update or setting. It took me a while to figure out as GM is not forthcoming on information to work around their subscription sales but at this point I am actually pretty happy with the 2024 Infotainment system.
You only need an Onstar sub if you do not have a phone capable of Android Auto or CarPlay.
You only need an Onstar sub if you do not have a phone capable of Android Auto or CarPlay.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,574
Likes: 554
Install and enable Android Auto on your phone. Then on the car, pair the phone using bluetooth and allow permissions when the link is created. Launch Android Auto from the infotainment main screen and set up the options and settings for automatic start up and login.
Now every time I get in my car and start up, the system boots up and links to my phone and displays the navigation and media windows and starts playback of the last track.
This uses your phone's data connection, not the cars so no Onstar ransom is needed.
CarPlay setup is similar but an Apple device user would have to assist with any particulars.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 370
From: Ontario
In Canada, GM/Chevrolet include the OnStar 3 year subscription, but the cost is added to the price of the vehicle.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 370
From: Ontario
https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/top-3-...-apps-android/
Some of them, like Here WeGo, MapFactor Navigator, Maps Me, and the rest can be used to download map files for offline use. No subscription (angst) required.
So, if the subscription thing is a problem for you, park your car at home, connect your car's network to your home wifi router (think it's in the Settings/Network menu on the DIC), get one of these apps off the Google Play Store (some or all are supposed to be free), install it, do the offline maps download (some have built in notification when newer maps are available for download), and use it like a built in GPS navigation system, which is what they do.
I've used MapFactor before and it's not bad.
If Waze has an "offline maps" capability, use it, and you're good to go.
Be resilient, be creative, learn new skills, it's all good.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 370
From: Ontario
Nope, all of that, voice control, HUD navigation updates, NAV, etc all work fine without a subscription if you use Android Auto or Car Play. The only thing I have found so far that does not work is starting google assistant via voice. IE 'Ok Google' command. You have to press the voice button to start. Seems that one could be fixed with an update or setting. It took me a while to figure out as GM is not forthcoming on information to work around their subscription sales but at this point I am actually pretty happy with the 2024 Infotainment system.
You only need an Onstar sub if you do not have a phone capable of Android Auto or CarPlay.
You only need an Onstar sub if you do not have a phone capable of Android Auto or CarPlay.
Car isn't handy or accessible due to weather, so I can't verify that.
Haven't driven it in over a month, but when I get back into it, I'll try it, and post up results, if I remember.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 370
From: Ontario
I think someone was unable to get their My Chevrolet/My GM app to synchronize with the car's status data (tire pressure/fuel level/oil life), until they called OnStar, and voila.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,694
Likes: 106
It's just a matter of principle. GM raised the prices in '24 like 4 grand (at least the build I was considering), then have the nerve to not only remove a lot of functionality, but charge you for it? That's an insult to most of us, and it has nothing to do with affordability.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 1,680
Likes: 1,279
Using Google maps or some other navigation app of your choice on your iPhone and using CarPlay to display the map and location arrow on the car’s infotainment screen.
I’m sure this isn’t news but when I am going somewhere new I usually look up where I want to go on my iPhone while sitting on the couch. Usually using Google. The restaurant/museum whatever shows up in my Google search. Below is a “directions” icon. Click the icon Google maps puts a map on my phone screen with a suggested path. I get in the car. Plug in the phone and hit “start direction” or whatever it says and your phone Nav function becomes your car Nav function. I’m sure there are more apps and more methods but that’s easiest for me.
I’m sure this isn’t news but when I am going somewhere new I usually look up where I want to go on my iPhone while sitting on the couch. Usually using Google. The restaurant/museum whatever shows up in my Google search. Below is a “directions” icon. Click the icon Google maps puts a map on my phone screen with a suggested path. I get in the car. Plug in the phone and hit “start direction” or whatever it says and your phone Nav function becomes your car Nav function. I’m sure there are more apps and more methods but that’s easiest for me.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 1,680
Likes: 1,279
It's just a matter of principle. GM raised the prices in '24 like 4 grand (at least the build I was considering), then have the nerve to not only remove a lot of functionality, but charge you for it? That's an insult to most of us, and it has nothing to do with affordability.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 1,680
Likes: 1,279
Here's a link to an article that talks about some Android apps from the Google Play Store that can be loaded into the car's Android system. I've already uploaded Waze to it. I believe there's sufficient RAM included with the Infotainment System to add a few external nav apps and several GB of offline maps for use without a subscription.
https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/top-3-...-apps-android/
Some of them, like Here WeGo, MapFactor Navigator, Maps Me, and the rest can be used to download map files for offline use. No subscription (angst) required.
So, if the subscription thing is a problem for you, park your car at home, connect your car's network to your home wifi router (think it's in the Settings/Network menu on the DIC), get one of these apps off the Google Play Store (some or all are supposed to be free), install it, do the offline maps download (some have built in notification when newer maps are available for download), and use it like a built in GPS navigation system, which is what they do.
I've used MapFactor before and it's not bad.
If Waze has an "offline maps" capability, use it, and you're good to go.
Be resilient, be creative, learn new skills, it's all good.
https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/top-3-...-apps-android/
Some of them, like Here WeGo, MapFactor Navigator, Maps Me, and the rest can be used to download map files for offline use. No subscription (angst) required.
So, if the subscription thing is a problem for you, park your car at home, connect your car's network to your home wifi router (think it's in the Settings/Network menu on the DIC), get one of these apps off the Google Play Store (some or all are supposed to be free), install it, do the offline maps download (some have built in notification when newer maps are available for download), and use it like a built in GPS navigation system, which is what they do.
I've used MapFactor before and it's not bad.
If Waze has an "offline maps" capability, use it, and you're good to go.
Be resilient, be creative, learn new skills, it's all good.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 370
From: Ontario
sounds like you have figured out a work around but can you do all this without a Google account? I don’t have one and don’t want one and the problem is figuring all this **** out sounds like a part time job to me and I have zero interest in any of this. Zip. None. I just want my $90,000 car to have a Nav function so I can get to where I want to go with a few inputs if I don’t have my phone. What you described sounds like it would take hours if not days to figure out and might not even work. I’m at the point in life where nothing is more valuable than time and I would much rather work on learning a stones song on my guitar or work on the LS Trans Am build with RS chassis I want to do than effing with Google and apps and linking my car to the WiFi etc etc…. Just not interested. And shouldn’t have to be. gm owes me a $2k or a working Nav function.
Made up a gmail "handle" and created a basic email address when I retired in 2004.
I've never spent a penny on anything Google or Android (except some pricey phones).
It's actually pretty easy. Let's assume you can get your car's network connected to your home wifi router when you're sitting in your garage or driveway.
You use your (free email) google account to sign in to the C8's Infotainment system, access one of the offline map nav apps on the Google Play Store.
Down/up load it to the car, and install it.
Open the app, and download the maps (US/Canada/North America) to the car's hard drive (as I said before, I believe the on board SSD capacity can accommodate this).
Fire up the app, and try some simple directions from point A to B to test it.
It's not rocket science.
If it's a task that's beyond your level of GM/Chevrolet "tolerance", then I can't be of more assistance.
Sorry. Best I can do.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 1,680
Likes: 1,279
I've got a throw away google account based on a gmail.com free email address I've had for 2 decades.
Made up a gmail "handle" and created a basic email address when I retired in 2004.
I've never spent a penny on anything Google or Android (except some pricey phones).
It's actually pretty easy. Let's assume you can get your car's network connected to your home wifi router when you're sitting in your garage or driveway.
You use your (free email) google account to sign in to the C8's Infotainment system, access one of the offline map nav apps on the Google Play Store.
Down/up load it to the car, and install it.
Open the app, and download the maps (US/Canada/North America) to the car's hard drive (as I said before, I believe the on board SSD capacity can accommodate this).
Fire up the app, and try some simple directions from point A to B to test it.
It's not rocket science.
If it's a task that's beyond your level of GM/Chevrolet "tolerance", then I can't be of more assistance.
Sorry. Best I can do.
Made up a gmail "handle" and created a basic email address when I retired in 2004.
I've never spent a penny on anything Google or Android (except some pricey phones).
It's actually pretty easy. Let's assume you can get your car's network connected to your home wifi router when you're sitting in your garage or driveway.
You use your (free email) google account to sign in to the C8's Infotainment system, access one of the offline map nav apps on the Google Play Store.
Down/up load it to the car, and install it.
Open the app, and download the maps (US/Canada/North America) to the car's hard drive (as I said before, I believe the on board SSD capacity can accommodate this).
Fire up the app, and try some simple directions from point A to B to test it.
It's not rocket science.
If it's a task that's beyond your level of GM/Chevrolet "tolerance", then I can't be of more assistance.
Sorry. Best I can do.
is this something you have actually done? (downloaded something from the Google store to the C8 and use it to navigate from A to B)
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 370
From: Ontario
thats very kind. Honestly much appreciated. I may give it a whirl but any Nav needs a map and a gps signal. Nav Apps in phones use cell towers or the phones own gps along with downloaded maps to provide navigation. As gm desperately wants to suck me into a subscription to use Google maps Nav I doubt any app from the Google store will be allowed to use the gps signal that the car has. But as I said I’m way out of my depth here and before trying it I need to know someone has done this, in a 2024 C8, and the result is a car based Nav system (phone not connected) that can be used to navigate from A to B.
is this something you have actually done? (downloaded something from the Google store to the C8 and use it to navigate from A to B)
is this something you have actually done? (downloaded something from the Google store to the C8 and use it to navigate from A to B)
It is my understanding that the car comes with GPS built in, like most phones and other Android devices, so that part is included.
The apps mentioned in the prior post are all capable of using "offline maps" that can be downloaded to the car's Infotainment Android System, so that needs to be done for them to work "offline", as in, when there is no cell service available.
Just like a standalone Garmin GPS unit that we used to use (I still have 2 of them that work fine with Lifetime Maps subscription, included in their price).
Maps and GPS capability are all you need using this method. But you need to install the app, and download the maps first.
No OnStar subscription required.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 1,680
Likes: 1,279
I have Waze downloaded and installed and working in the Infotainment (Android) System.
It is my understanding that the car comes with GPS built in, like most phones and other Android devices, so that part is included.
The apps mentioned in the prior post are all capable of using "offline maps" that can be downloaded to the car's Infotainment Android System, so that needs to be done for them to work "offline", as in, when there is no cell service available.
Just like a standalone Garmin GPS unit that we used to use (I still have 2 of them that work fine with Lifetime Maps subscription, included in their price).
Maps and GPS capability are all you need using this method. But you need to install the app, and download the maps first.
No OnStar subscription required.
It is my understanding that the car comes with GPS built in, like most phones and other Android devices, so that part is included.
The apps mentioned in the prior post are all capable of using "offline maps" that can be downloaded to the car's Infotainment Android System, so that needs to be done for them to work "offline", as in, when there is no cell service available.
Just like a standalone Garmin GPS unit that we used to use (I still have 2 of them that work fine with Lifetime Maps subscription, included in their price).
Maps and GPS capability are all you need using this method. But you need to install the app, and download the maps first.
No OnStar subscription required.
This would be very helpful. I don’t generally connect my phone to my car so it would be great to have Nav in the car without the blood sucking Onstar subscription.
Any other 2024 owners running a Nav app in their C8 without the Subscription?
I’m amazed (and thrilled) that this work around is available. I would have thought for sure gm would block the cars gps from being used by a non subscription app. This is a game changer if I can add my own Nav and have it work with the infotainment screen.
Last edited by 24RiptideBlue; Jan 24, 2024 at 03:11 PM.