I've had my Volt for almost 2 months...I'd received one notification that my data was running out so I bought some more for something like $15 and now that's run out too....I'm the only one using it and I don't think I use all that much. I told them not to renew it again, and we'll see how that goes. Am I just double paying for data from OnStar as well as my phone provider as I've got an included amount of data with my phone anyway for when I'm not in a wifi hotspot. It seems to me that I can get by just fine without any wifi on in my car. Anyone else have thoughts on this?
OnStar data plan question
1 - 10 of 10 Posts
If you have a data plan with your phone I see absolutely no reason to have wifi hotspot data for your Volt. I believe the purpose of the data plan for the Volt was for those who wish to use tablets/laptop devices without a 3g or 4g wireless connection but still able to connect via wifi. In fact, most devices can double as their own wifi hotspot which eliminates the need for a dedicated hotspot device.
Joined
·
6,370 Posts
I used WiFi once for a roadtrip in our 2016 and it was useful and convenient for tablets and the passenger.
A lot of phones have the ability to be used as hotspots and I would probably do that in the future.
I think they make a lot of money on this option and data usage is likely hard to track for the user.
It was odd / funny when they wanted my car to have a unique phone number. Just seemed archaic when everyone has a cell phone and there is bluetooth connectivity.
A lot of phones have the ability to be used as hotspots and I would probably do that in the future.
I think they make a lot of money on this option and data usage is likely hard to track for the user.
It was odd / funny when they wanted my car to have a unique phone number. Just seemed archaic when everyone has a cell phone and there is bluetooth connectivity.
Joined
·
1,900 Posts
Yes....!!!!
Joined
·
197 Posts
Also, if your phone is connected to the OnStar wifi when you plug it in to charge, it will backup to iCloud (or android equivalent) using your OnStar data plan. This could be the source of a lot of your consumption. If your provider is through AT&T you can have the car's wifi hotspot added to your family share plan instead of paying OnStar directly.
Joined
·
2,179 Posts
OnStar had an Unlimited Plan for $20 bucks a month. That is what we have and it is extremely useful for the kids.
I frequently drive through some rural areas where my phone and tablet struggle to keep a signal, but the car's larger antenna works fine. I ended up adding my car as an extra "device" to my existing AT&T data plan along with my iPad and my wife's iPad. For $10 per month, the extra convenience was worth it to me. YMMV.
"Insight Refugee" nailed it ... the biggest pro to having the OnStar hotspot is that the cell antenna in the car is much more powerful than the one in your phone and will have reception in the more "sketchy" areas that your phone may not (YMMV depending on area). Right now I don't have it enabled - either by itself or added as a device on my Mobile Share Plan on AT&T but on our next long road trip I likely will as there are areas that we'll drive that I know my phone won't get reception but the car likely will.
Joined
·
94 Posts
Under Android, you can set a specific wifi connection as "metered" in the settings under Data Usage -> Network Restrictions. This prevents the background tasks from using the data willy-nilly.
I'm not aware of an equivalent for iOS other than manually turning automatic sync off and back on, but I'm not really an Apple guy.
1 - 10 of 10 Posts
