Onstar phone

OnStar uses the cellular system. How does it work when cell service is not available? I had it on all three of my vehicles, but with Bluetooth I dropped OnStar and just use my cell phone.

RT

I use it to call Canada and when I am in Canada. Verizon has Canada Calling but it is always a hassle to get that set up and then cancelled after a month.

roman traveler wrote:
OnStar uses the cellular system. How does it work when cell service is not available? I had it on all three of my vehicles, but with Bluetooth I dropped OnStar and just use my cell phone.

RT

OnStar uses a "high output amp" that is NOT available to you or I. I have heard 3W, but am not real sure. As long as there is "some" signal, even one you can't see, it will work.

The Texan wrote:

roman traveler wrote:
OnStar uses the cellular system. How does it work when cell service is not available? I had it on all three of my vehicles, but with Bluetooth I dropped OnStar and just use my cell phone.

RT

OnStar uses a "high output amp" that is NOT available to you or I. I have heard 3W, but am not real sure. As long as there is "some" signal, even one you can't see, it will work.

Something like the old bag phones we had in the early years of cell phones. Thanks for responding.

Rt

The Texan wrote:
We use ours now and then and up till now, it was as good as a regular cell phone. However, they have switched carriers and gone from Verizon to Sprint, so I am anticipating that the service will go downhill quickly. We have NO Sprint service in most of the south Texas area where we work and very spotty service in both Idaho, our home and Nevada, where the family ranch headquarters is located.

OnStar systems installed after 2015 will be serviced by the AT&T 4G network but everything installed before 2015 will continue to be serviced by Verizon.
ArizAl