Feature Spotlight: Here’s How OnStar’s RemoteLink App Works
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OnStar’s MyLink RemoteLink app (for iPhone and Android devices) is probably the most useful (not to mention the coolest) piece of telematics technology on the market today. We thought that some of you may want to know how RemoteLink works, so we’ve reached out to the folks at OnStar and got the down-low for your reading pleasure.
Assuming that the user has already registered for OnStar, has an OnStar user ID and password, has enabled remote commands online, downloaded the app, logged in, and confirmed the device, here’s how the RemoteLink app works:
- For starters, RemoteLink (running on a mobile device, such as a smartphone) connects to the outside world via the Internet either through a cellular network (like 3G or 4G) or through WiFi
- When a user requests a remote command (such as remote start), the app sends a signal to OnStar’s data centers (again, via the Internet)
- The data center then sends a response, which is sent to the vehicle (such as the request for remote start) over the Internet using a cellular connection. The cellular carriers vary by geography; in the U.S., the carrier is Verizon Wireless; in China, it’s China Telecom.
- Upon receiving the command from the data center, the vehicle executes the appropriate command and then responds using its built-in OnStar cellular connection, sending a signal to the data center over the Internet (such as whether it has successfully executed the remote start command)
- Upon receiving the reply from the vehicle, the data center then sends a final reply, which is dispatched to the vehicle as well as the user’s device. At this point, the device (such as a smartphone) shows a successful “Your Vehicle Is Now Running” or unsuccessful “Unable to start vehicle” message.
This same process is replicated for other commands, such as door lock/unlock, horn, lights, and vehicle information (such as tire pressure, gas mileage, range, etc). OnStar tells us that subsequent requests are faster than the very first, since the connection to the vehicle is already open and active.
Most importantly, the five-step process outlined above takes place within a matter of 50 seconds. Considering that the user can perform the same functions whether they are ten feet away from their vehicle or ten thousand miles around the world, we’d say this is nothing short of remarkable. What’s more, everything the app does is performed through the Web and OnStar’s data centers: no direct phone-to-vehicle connection is present.
For those upset by the fact that RemoteLink only works with certain 2010 and newer model year vehicles, it’s important to note that only vehicles with generation 9 OnStar hardware were designed to work with the app. Since this hardware is only present in 2011 model year and newer GM vehicles, compatibility with 2010 model year and older products requires several work-arounds, which aren’t possible on certain cars.
Now that you know how RemoteLink works, what features would you like to see added to the service? Sound off in the comments!
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I sadly have decided to sell my 2008 buick Lacrosse. It is a fine car built by a dishonest and inferior company. The latest is the fact that the Remote link appliation does not work withmy vehicle. This is basically saying that GM only cares about customers who can buy a new car every 3-5 years. I am tired of paying $30 a month for slow, dismal, inaccurate Onstar. I am furious about having to replace keyfobs ever 18 months, being told they are bad, and need to be replaced. $150 dollars for a new fob and programming, when all I needed was a new case for $10. This company has never been responsive. Customer service is a joke. What a ripoff. Do these clowns remember how we bailed them out in 2009?
1) I am contacting the US attorney general to start the process of class action lawsuit against GM over the key fob ripoff isue
2) I an canceling my Onstar at 7:00 AM
3)I am selling my Lacrosse and buying at toyota.
ANYONE WHO BUYS GM DESERVES EXACTLY WHAT THEY GET.
Charles did you honestly think that your 5 year old LaCrosse was going to work with the latest and greatest? Technology moves on. Don’t be mad at GM for that…
But I’m more curious about what’s going on with the key fob issue.
And about the bailout: the “clowns” are making the best cars in the world right now. Good luck with your Toyota. Hope it doesn’t run away on you.
My 2004 Camry has never had any problems. And I still have the original key fob in the 2004 camry.
Why do you want to know about the keyfob? Did you have to have yours replaced too?Keep your receipts: there is going to be a class action settlement, I promise you.
This scam is where you take you failed fob into the dealer. They put it on a pad that is supposed to light up. It doesn’t. They tell you it has gone bad and needs to be replaced. You pay around $120-$150 to replace the fob and have it programmed to your vehicle. After my 4th failure, I went on the internet and discovered that this is a common issue. The electronics are fine. The rubber pads on the case wear out. I ordered new cases and every single key fob I own works just fine. A case costs $10. GM could sell them in their parts stores. But why should they do that when they can prey upon their own customers?
Yes, i do expect the iphone app would work with a 2008 vehicle equipped with onstar, or at least an upgrade path for those vehicles. Abondoning owners who keep their cars is another example of GM showing contempt for it’s own customers
You’re right. They are not clowns. They are crooks. I am done with GM.
Got a 2012 sierra slt. I have a blackberry 9810. Is there an app to operate the remote link?
Ryan — there’s a version of OnStar RemoteLink for the BlackBerry platform, but I don’t think it’s compatible with your device. Here’s some more info:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2012/05/onstar-brings-remotelink-app-to-blackberry-devices/
I have a 2013 GMC Sierra SLE. I can not get the remote start from the RemoteLink to work. Should it work or is their something I need to do? I keep getting error 220, can’t have the keys in the vehicle. They are not in it so I’m not sure what to do next.
Matt — if I remember correctly, I think I needed to activate the RemoteLink app with the vehicle before using it. Was this something you did before attempting to use it?
Alex
PS: congrats on the new Sierra!
Alex- yes I activated and enabled everything for RemoteLink. Everything works except the remote start. I’m going to try onstar tech assistance but was hoping to avoid it.
I have the On Star remote start for my 2011 Equinox and it works perfectly. It’s what keeps me from canceling OnStar (because I’m trying to save $$).
Hi, I have a 2012 Traverse and I had the dealer install remote start after being advised that OnStar would update and work because the dealer registers the addition through GM. Does anyone know how long the process takes or if it is possible? The dealer says its done and OnStar says it’ll never happen. Thanks for any help!
Daniel,
I had the same situation with my 2012 Silverado, except my dealer didn’t misrepresent the OnStar remotelink like yours did. I ended up getting my remotelink to work with my remote start but I was so tired of being called stupid by OnStar that I cancelled their service after the trial period was up.
Facts are that your dealer doesn’t add any hardware to your vehicle to get the remote start to work. It comes from the factory with everything needed already installed except the programming for the key fobs to function. If your original key fobs weren’t stolen from you by the mechanic that installed the programming, you can pop them open and you will even see the circuits are already there for the remote start button but you didn’t have the correct cover on them with the button for remote start. So all you needed is the correct cover for the key fobs and to have them programmed to operate the remote start. I think they charge you $250 or more so that you think they are installing hardware and this is actually difficult to do.
The operation of RemoteLink to start your vehicle is all about the money that you didn’t pay to GM for the next higher priced trim level on your Traverse that included factory enabled remote start. GM owns OnStar so don’t think for one minute that this isn’t just about the money. OnStar can pretty much control anything they want to on your car, lock and unlock the doors, slow it down and stop it for the cops, remote start it, etc.It was all installed at the factory. They just want to make sure you pay the top price for the service.
My remote link didn’t start working with remote start until I had complained a whole lot to OnStar and a whole lot of other blogs and reviews. I would post reviews on Edmunds, Kelly Blue Book, and any other place people are looking to buy these vehicles.
One other thing, make sure you push the red button for OnStar emergency service if you actually need help immediately. The blue button will only get you put on hold until the next available operator and if someone’s life is on the line you don’t want to be put on hold. The automatic crash response also doesn’t work until your airbags are deployed. The only way that OnStar makes sense to me is if you live in an area without good cell phone reception or a higher auto theft rate, otherwise there is always someone around with a cell phone within a few minutes
Larry — so do you now have OnStar RemoteLink on your truck, even though you didn’t have remote start at the factory? Am I understanding correctly? If so, is there anything else you did except to complaint to OnStar?
Yes, it started working right after I called them up and told them to cancel my subscription to OnStar but I was so disgusted with them by that time that I followed thru with cancelling the subscription at the end of the 6 month trial period. It worked just fine. I still maintain that it’s all about them changing the codes on their end and all about the money in the price difference. All of the hardware is already there.
Alex,
Totalled out the 2012 Silverado in an accident this week. Brought a new 2013 Silverado home today with dealer installed remote start. I set up RemoteLink again and the very first time I went to the remote start page, all my icons were there and I tested the remote start twice. It worked perfect the first and second try. The only difference between the 2012 and 2013 was that I set up RemoteLink before the remote start was programmed on the 2012. The remote start was set up on the 2013 before I set up RemoteLink for it.
Wasn’t this article supposed to explain how onstar works? It doesn’t say how the onstar data center connects to the vehicle. It says “over the Internet”. Is that over cellular or satellite, or magic? Does it need open sky or will it work in a covered garage?
Jay — that’s a good question.
Today, all communications between the vehicle and OnStar’s data centers take place over cellular. In the U.S., that would be Verizon’s cell network, for example. So as long as the vehicle has a cellular signal, it will be able to communicate.
As far as I know, the only time that satellite is used is when GPS location services are invoked. Outside of that, satellite communication is quite expensive but not very effective (slow).
Hope that answers your questions.
Alex
GM Authority
Jay, I also just updated the article to reflect my answer to your question. Wouldn’t have thought of it without you 🙂
Just bought a 2013 Silverado with factory installed remote start and the Onstar link for remote start does not work. Not a happy camper.
A/C controls would be awesome!
I own a 2012 Chevy Malibu and I’m kind of upset that remote start is not available through the RemoteLink app. just paid 20 something thousand dollars for this car and I would like this feature added from OnStar or at least a good reason why I can start it with the fob but they can’t do it from the app.
Agree with Required name and Doug D, it is very frustrating that the 2012 Malibu is the only vehicle affected. My husband works for a chevy dealership and has a Silverado, I have a malibu and my daughter has a cruz, and I am the only one who cant access remote start on my mobile. Ridiculous!! We pay for 3 vehicles to be onstar activated, we shouldnt be having a problem!!
I just bought a 2014 Chevy Equinox. It has remote start. I downloaded the onstar app and there is no icon to remote start the car. I called onstar and they said my remote start was not factory installed so it won’t work. Will it really never work with the onstar app? I’ve seen people say on here that it is possible.
Mandy — you need to have remote start installed in the vehicle (on your key fob) in order to take advantage of remote start via OnStar RemoteLink.
Some have had success in having a dealership installing the GM OEM remote start system installed — so that’s one option to explore if you want remote start. Let me know how it goes 🙂
Alex
I too had the factory remote start put on my wife’s 2012 traverse. Which I was told is the exact kit that would have been installed from the factory (which they said only certain ones can be installed and had to check and make sure mine was set up from factory to accept it which it was) The problem is wide spread not just a few people… Since having it installed I have found several forms people trying to find a solution to this problem…
I understand that onstar is a complex program. But all it needs is a way to update the options of a vehicle. They use the same hardware as one that comes from the factory just getting the onstar system to scan and recognize what options are on a vehicle…
first time this happen to my camaro 2011 ss ,wont start just wondering if on star has anything to do with this please respond please, thank you
From what I gather from your comment, your Camaro doesn’t start… right? If so, then no — your Camaro not starting has nothing to do with OnStar.
I have the app but only lock/unlock/horn&lights and turn off horn&lights are options. Why don’t I see the option for remote start? Do I need standard remote start on my vehicle for this to work? I have a 2014 Equinox. Thank you.
Hi Julie. Yes, your vehicle must have remote start to have the remote start feature in the Remote Link app. I heard that you can have remote start installed (GM factory parts, with modified key fobs), which will then enable remote start in your Remote Link app. I would double check with (a knowledgeable) parts representative at a (knowledgeable) dealership, though 🙂
I was a little dissapointed when my brand new 2014 Spark didn’t come with the remote start, the icons aren’t even available to push within my OnStar RemoteLink app. But I figured that was to do with not having the pre-installed remote start hardware.
But lately….
Everything else was working fine in the beginning (mind you, I purchased the vehicle less than a month ago). But recently I started having another issue: Any ideas as to why my MPG would not be reporting correctly? According to my dash, I’m getting about 34 in the city. However, on the app, it’s consistantly reporting 7. I can understand a + or – of a %5 flux, but that big of a difference is a little rediculous. I’ve tried multiple back to back data refresh cycles, and it still consistantly reports 7.
Just wanted to know why my 2014 Malibu doesn’t come with remote start
When I initially install Remote Link on my phone both my vehicles show up and I have to select one or the other. After I’m hooked up though I can only access that vehicle. How can I switch back and forth between two vehicles?