[schernov]

Do all Onstar boxes have standard connections? Can I pull a digital unit from a newer GM vehicle and put it into saab? or at lease splice it in?
Anybody has a diagram of the harnes(s) that come in/out of Onstar box in the trunk?

 

[ctrlz]

I think Viscouse knows more about this.

I'm pretty certain you can't upgrade analog to digital. Not sure even a dealer can do it.

Also, these modules on the fiber optic bus need to be recognized under Tech II settings. I think the serial numbers need to be registered with the car. So you can't pull parts from a junkyard and get them to work without a trip to the dealer.

 

[schernov]

I think Viscouse knows more about this.

I'm pretty certain you can't upgrade analog to digital. Not sure even a dealer can do it.

Also, these modules on the fiber optic bus need to be recognized under Tech II settings. I think the serial numbers need to be registered with the car. So you can't pull parts from a junkyard and get them to work without a trip to the dealer.

That's what I was afraid of - damn fiber our cars are like a Windows computer - Add/remove this, install this driver, etc I just hope they don't reboot when they feel like it.

 

[Viscouse]

That would scare me. Plugging something digintal into an analog port! Course, it should have the same output interface?

I'm not sure. Everyone's clamoring for the digital onstar boxes (maybe try a search for "digital onstar"?). I'd love to know if you can swap em out. Doesn't the theory go that those with digital onstar can have Tel2? Plug a SIM card in it?

Sorry, I'm flailing here...

 

[schernov]

That would scare me. Plugging something digintal into an analog port! Course, it should have the same output interface?

I'm not sure. Everyone's clamoring for the digital onstar boxes (maybe try a search for "digital onstar"?). I'd love to know if you can swap em out. Doesn't the theory go that those with digital onstar can have Tel2? Plug a SIM card in it?

Sorry, I'm flailing here...

Ok, what I am thinking is really it should not matter what the onstar box is - digital or analog - the signal output and all controls that hook up to the car should work the same. Analog/Digital is the way the cell phone works.
I dont think there is a SIM reader in the digital box, as Onstar is in bed with Verizon and those guys are CDMA shop.
I tried researching and information is limited. Once 2006 saabs with digital onstar start shipping - we need somebody with access to partnumbers/diagrams to cross reference the two...

 

[ctrlz]

When the digital OnStar came out a few people asked to have their analog boxes "upgraded." I think some even said their analog boxes were malfunctioning. In both cases, I'm pretty sure the answer was the dealer would replace the analog box with another analog box.

Why? I don't remember. It was in an old post. The last time I remember reading it was when someone brought up the idea of removing the OnStar unit.

Try a search for "remove OnStar."

Edit:here you go

 

[schernov]

When the digital OnStar came out a few people asked to have their analog boxes "upgraded." I think some even said their analog boxes were malfunctioning. In both cases, I'm pretty sure the answer was the dealer would replace the analog box with another analog box.

Why? I don't remember. It was in an old post. The last time I remember reading it was when someone brought up the idea of removing the OnStar unit.

Try a search for "remove OnStar."

Edit:here you go

In the end of your search post, one guy states that we have hybrid boxes. So far I was not able to confirm this anywhere!

 

[ctrlz]

In the end of your search post, one guy states that we have hybrid boxes. So far I was not able to confirm this anywhere!

You could try to PM him. I don't really know about this myself.

I consider my OnStar to be dead weight, but it doesn't seem to be easy to get rid of.

 

[sbl]

Not "hybrid", though I may have used that term at one time. In OnStar-speak, our boxes are "digital-ready". This means that they can be upgraded to digital, but not until Saab and OnStar decide to make such upgrades available. They aren't at this time.

 

[schernov]

Not "hybrid", though I may have used that term at one time. In OnStar-speak, our boxes are "digital-ready". This means that they can be upgraded to digital, but not until Saab and OnStar decide to make such upgrades available. They aren't at this time.

I think i asked you before but where do you get this information? I was on Onstar site, that I believe you referenced before - and was not able to find any confirmation. Do you have a source inside GM. Can you give us some more details on how you found out that these boxes are digital ready?

 

[Jet 9-3]

I thought Onstar is partnered w/ Verizon? Don't they use CDMA and not GSM? :roll: How would a SIM card work?

 

[schernov]

I thought Onstar is partnered w/ Verizon? Don't they use CDMA and not GSM? :roll: How would a SIM card work?

They are w/Verizon. We are not talking about converting to GSM, we are talking about making onstar Digital, so you can use Verizon deal.