Onstar....... How does it work?

[j.m@talk]

No I don't mean what does it do.......

So we got Cellular tech & GPS ......... Does this mean if your out of phone range nuffing works? )-|

Just wondering :)

Seems like a great idea tho :t

[Baddog]

There are two Onstar programs
1. For your vehicle
2. Onstar At Home

Which one are you talking about?:)

[Baddog]

Q: How does the OnStar at Home technology work?
A: Homeowners will be able to access and control their in-home systems, any time, any place through a variety of methods. For instance the homeowner can use the OnStar voice recognition technology from their car or phone. In addition, they will have wireless access from a WAP phone or PDA. Finally, they can access the home through a private website using any standard web browser. Through any of these methods, the homeowner can issue a command to the home or request information from the home.

All communications from the homeowner are received by the OnStar platform. The OnStar application translates and sends the request to the Invensys application, which again translates the information so it can be understood by devices in the home. The translated request is then routed to the proper home where the Invensys Gateway sends the command to the appropriate device – i.e. lighting, thermostat, door – and the command is executed.

As an example, the homeowner may request to view images from the Panasonic Web camera installed in the home or to disarm the ATD security system. Once the homeowner’s request has been accomplished, the gateway then sends a status notification back through the same channels, and OnStar relays the updated information to the homeowner. The entire process only takes a few moments.

[Baddog]

GPS technology works by using radio signals from 24 satellites orbiting at an altitude of 10,900 nautical miles above the earth. Each satellite calculates how long it takes a radio signal from the satellite to reach a specific vehicle, then calculates the time to do so using the speed of light (186,000 miles/s). Both the satellite and the vehicle's GPS receiver generate the same pseudorandom coded signal.

OnStar calculates the time the signal travels by comparing how late the satellite's code is with respect to the receiver. That time difference is then multiplied by 186,000 miles/s, giving the vehicle's distance from one satellite. For the most accurate measurement of vehicle location, OnStar uses measurement from four of the 16 satellites.

When communicating with an OnStar Call Center, the vehicle-identification number (VIN) and the user's account number are transmitted, as are the vehicle's make, color, and model year (see the diagram).http://www.elecdesign.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=2825

[j.m@talk]

Car! :t