How2Day: OnStar Module Types

The OnStar system gives you access to emergency personnel. fire truck image by AGITA LEIMANE from Fotolia.com
OnStar is a security system made by the OnStar company that goes in your vehicle. It gives you access to OnStar advisors any hour of the day, a connection to emergency personnel in the area you're travelling in, and access to a hands-free calling device. Vehicles that have OnStar installed will have one of three equipment types: analog-only, analog/digital-ready, or dual-mode (analog and digital).

Analog-only OnStar modules were made for those vehicles that had an analog wireless network. They used an analog connection to connect to the OnStar services. Unfortunately, as of January 1, 2008, customers with analog-only modules could no long receive the services offered by the OnStar security system. Customers with analog-only equipment cannot upgrade to dual-mode modules. If you have an analog-only module in your vehicle and you still wish to have the OnStar system, you must buy a new or used vehicle with the dual-mode OnStar module system installed.

Some vehicles that were built with an OnStar system used an analog/digital-ready module for the wireless network. Unlike the analog-only modules, these wireless network modules can be upgraded to the dual-mode equipment, but only if that equipment is available for that vehicle. To find out if the equipment is available for your vehicle, contact an OnStar representative directly at 1-888-4-ONSTAR.

The dual-mode OnStar wireless network module can work on analog and digital wireless networks. Again, unlike those that have the analog-only modules, those customers with dual-mode wireless equipment installed in their vehicle will not have to get an upgrade. As of 2010 all new cars built with the OnStar system used the dual-mode wireless network module.

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