procedure to disable onstar and keep bluetooth
- Thread starter nocoolnames
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007CobaltLS
New member
I like the write-up and after a little searching, came upon this...how nice of GM...now I'm having second thoughts of replacing the Cobalt, which btw, is OnStar free.
OnStar Begins Spying On Customers’ GPS Location For Profit? | Jonathan Zdziarski's Domain
But now I understand the reasoning and I'm all for this thread...they truly are Government Motors.
I should also mention that I live nearly off the grid...I pay cash for most everything including rent, no bills in my name...my cell is through a friend...family account and she's an employee so I pay 60% of what a regular smartphone plan would cost, my car insurance goes to my soon to be ex-wife's place because they think we're still living together, my rent includes all utilities. I don't have any actual bank accounts anymore...just a prepaid debit card with direct deposit to it from my employer...my cell is the only downfall...LMAO. And now my posting to the internet...dammit.
OnStar Begins Spying On Customers’ GPS Location For Profit? | Jonathan Zdziarski's Domain
But now I understand the reasoning and I'm all for this thread...they truly are Government Motors.
I should also mention that I live nearly off the grid...I pay cash for most everything including rent, no bills in my name...my cell is through a friend...family account and she's an employee so I pay 60% of what a regular smartphone plan would cost, my car insurance goes to my soon to be ex-wife's place because they think we're still living together, my rent includes all utilities. I don't have any actual bank accounts anymore...just a prepaid debit card with direct deposit to it from my employer...my cell is the only downfall...LMAO. And now my posting to the internet...dammit.
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CoHPhasor
Active member
That's ok, you just named tons of ways for them to get to you... better knock off those you menionted.
No, I seriously feel you, but this doesn't accomplish what either of us needs.
If we can press 'the green button' and it can connect we're still under their thumb.
Next step, wrap it in Faraday material.
If that doesn't work? my soldering iron and more drastic measures will be involved.
nocoolnames
New member
That's ok, you just named tons of ways for them to get to you... better knock off those you menionted.
No, I seriously feel you, but this doesn't accomplish what either of us needs.
If we can press 'the green button' and it can connect we're still under their thumb.
Next step, wrap it in Faraday material.
If that doesn't work? my soldering iron and more drastic measures will be involved.
I've been told if you pull the onstar fuse the whole system will stop working, I haven't done this because I want to keep my hands free calling. Theres a thread on here somewhere that points out the onstar fuse.
laborsmith
New member
sx sonic: I suspect my skepticism excludes me but I thank you for the honor.
I should say my disposition regarding OnStar predates by years anything that happened in the GM world before 2008. It is complicated and testimony to my prejudices so I avoid details.
I would repeat what I have said previously about the fuse pull: if that worked than all a person of criminal intent need do was pull the OnStar fuse and drive away w/o worry of being tracked. I also suspect the GPS antenna is not absolutely required to track.
I still believe in the efficacy of third party tracking for ordered vehicles. I do think Chevrolet could do a better job, and it has been over a year since I contacted them by phone and by email to communicate my thoughts. And I prefer the old Track Your Order web page because at least you could click on the VIN there and print out your Window Sticker.
Laborsmith
I should say my disposition regarding OnStar predates by years anything that happened in the GM world before 2008. It is complicated and testimony to my prejudices so I avoid details.
I would repeat what I have said previously about the fuse pull: if that worked than all a person of criminal intent need do was pull the OnStar fuse and drive away w/o worry of being tracked. I also suspect the GPS antenna is not absolutely required to track.
I still believe in the efficacy of third party tracking for ordered vehicles. I do think Chevrolet could do a better job, and it has been over a year since I contacted them by phone and by email to communicate my thoughts. And I prefer the old Track Your Order web page because at least you could click on the VIN there and print out your Window Sticker.
Laborsmith
XgovernmentAgent
New member
Does anyone know what the cellular data feature in the OnStar uses? CDMA or GSM? I would assume it would be CDMA. Figuring a way to disable that would be the best bet after pulling the GPS antenna to getting one step closer to being free. Aside from lining your fedora with foil.
Swordsmith
242hp/252 ft-lbs BNR EFI
OnStar claims that if you tell them to disconnect your service, the only thing that continues to work is their blue button, which will connect you with customer service. They further state that it will probably take at least ten minutes (subtext, ten decades long minutes while you writhe in pain in your vehicle while they work desperately to turn things back on so they can locate you for the emergency vehicles) to get GPS working again if this happens.
Whether you believe that or not is, again, up to your own personal paranoia levels.
However it does seem that if you have NOT had Onstar activated, that you can always use the blue button the selfsame way, so never signing up doesn't really put you in a better position than someone who signed up and then opted back out. They can still turn it on whenever they feel like it.
Makes this dismantle project a little more interesting doesn't it?
Whether you believe that or not is, again, up to your own personal paranoia levels.
However it does seem that if you have NOT had Onstar activated, that you can always use the blue button the selfsame way, so never signing up doesn't really put you in a better position than someone who signed up and then opted back out. They can still turn it on whenever they feel like it.
Makes this dismantle project a little more interesting doesn't it?
dangerfield007
New member
tri star antenna
Would unpinning the phone part of the tri star antenna (on top of the car) prevent incoming and outgoing data.
or would this also disable the Bluetooth function?
Wiring diagram........
Would unpinning the phone part of the tri star antenna (on top of the car) prevent incoming and outgoing data.
or would this also disable the Bluetooth function?
Wiring diagram........
Stew
Sedans Rule!
There is only one antenna cable that plugs into the back of the OnStar module, on 2013's at least. The GPS receiver which is integrated into the OnStar module shares this antenna, disconnecting it will disable the Sonic's compass and prevent OnStar from knowing your location, but seemingly not from OnStar connecting to its network and trying to send telemetry.
According to another member in another post, he tested OnStar with his antenna disconnected and he was still connected with an OnStar agent but they could not determine his location. This would also mean that unless you have something in your OBDII port, they can still gather all your vehicle info except GPS data, with the antenna disconnected.
Disconnecting the antenna from the back of the OnStar module (as I have done) does not affect the Bluetooth reception, which is also integrated into the OnStar module as it sounds like you already know.
According to another member in another post, he tested OnStar with his antenna disconnected and he was still connected with an OnStar agent but they could not determine his location. This would also mean that unless you have something in your OBDII port, they can still gather all your vehicle info except GPS data, with the antenna disconnected.
Disconnecting the antenna from the back of the OnStar module (as I have done) does not affect the Bluetooth reception, which is also integrated into the OnStar module as it sounds like you already know.
dangerfield007
New member
I was getting at disconnecting the Phone part of the antenna along with the GPS part. If I understand correctly, there are 3 parts to the main antenna
GPS, Phone (data), and radio (AM/FM + sat)
would unpinning/ disconnecting both the GPS and the phone/data antenna prevent onstar from reading and connecting to the vehicle.
Also would disconnecting the phone/ data part of the antenna compromise the Bluetooth in the vehicle. Using the Bluetooth, I would not think it would not disable it but would prevent using the onstar phone service.
2014 Blue RS
Active member
Reminds me of when I found out GEICO and other insurance companies where donating red light cameras to cities.
BradleyJames
New member
But how will I start my car without my onstar??? Use my key instead of my phone like a heathen??? What is this, 1901?
2014 Blue RS
Active member
Keyfob starts your car without Onstar.
Prospector
New member
I know this is an old thread, but I hunted it down because this is very relevant: Hackers Remotely Kill a Jeep on the Highway?With Me in It | WIRED
All you need is Onstar. Or whatever MOPAR's equivalent is.
All you need is Onstar. Or whatever MOPAR's equivalent is.
laborsmith
New member
To come closer to the facts, this hi jacking used the Jeep's WI-FI connection. On-Star does offer WI-FI, but I think it is an optional upgrade to On-Star. I will check as best I can and if wrong will revise this post.
Laborsmith
Laborsmith
laborsmith
New member
OnStar does include WI-FI as standard, the Available apparently refers to it needs a compatible cell phone to work. I have no idea what that means nor am I interested in any explanation.
Laborsmith
Laborsmith