13 ms·

When I had a vehicle with OnStar, I located where its antennae connected to the controller and disconnected it. The vehicle was fine, nothing else was impacted.

• catchnear4321 4y ago
  A hardware toggle provided by the manufacturer would be a lot more respectful of the customer. That sort of respect would even get some subscriptions out of it. But that probably goes against the long term strategy for most places - that connection is for more, later. How hard was it to disconnect, out of curiosity. Not asking for anything identifying, just wondering if it required removing panels or was just a matter of reaching an arm in the right spot. Nice to know it can be done without anything too drastic.
• linster 4y ago
  "I've cut the antennas out of hardware that is part of a subscription software package I'm still paying for"
  • hombre_fatal 4y ago
    Why not write a reply with your voice instead of just trying to rephrase what they said?
    • mynameisvlad 4y ago
      They're not. They're quite obviously pointing out that cutting the antenna does nothing about the fact that the subscription is still bundled and active.
      • hombre_fatal 4y ago
        As the other two comments point out, you can have the equipment without the software activated. So their guess/"quote" makes an incorrect assumption. So, what value does it add? It seems to simply exist to make an assumption that makes the other HNer look bad.
        • mynameisvlad 4y ago
          This thread is about GM forcibly bundling OnStar into a bunch of their cars. Removing the antenna does nothing to prevent that. Whether you activate the subscription or not, you're still paying $1500 for it.
          • hombre_fatal 4y ago
            Their story doesn't really apply here. Fair enough. My issue is more with 4chan greentext being a low form of communication. Almost anything is better than it, like "Well, you'd still be paying the subscription." Even direct snark feels higher level than greentext-style rephrasing.
  • kube-system 4y ago
    Onstar remains connected (but paywalled) even when you don’t pay.
  • neogodless 4y ago
    On Star is both equipment and a subscription to use it. They mean the vehicle was equipped... with the equipment. Not that they were paying for the subscription. The "mandatory" subscription is a new announcement, and does not apply to previously purchased vehicles.
• LeifCarrotson 4y ago
  The problem is that you can disconnect the antenna, but you'll still be billed $1500 for the subscription, regardless of whether you use it or not.