Topic: OnStar is now GONEstar !!! bluetooth integration

[Mike Mercury]

my 2008's free one-year OnStar subscription is up in a few days; I called to see what my options were.  I only use the built-in cell phone... and nothing else.  As all of you probably know - you can't just renew the cell phone portion... you must also have OnStar as well.  Ya know, GM could of continued making a small profit selling me more minutes without OnStar; but instead decided to get nothing from me (since I will not pay $15/month additionally for OnStar AND buy minutes as well).

Like many, I have a perfectly good cell phone with bluetooth capabilities.  My goals for integration into my 2008 Avalanche were:

*hands free operation
*dialing by voice - speaking the name of a contact list entry
*dialing by voice - speaking the actual telephone number (AKA: digit dialing... just like the OnStar cell setup)
*no external speaker - integration into the existing car radio (similar to OnStar cell)
*no additional external microphone
*no external controller

First; the bluetooth car kit (integration to follow later below)
I found two bluetooth handsfree car kits that would allow for digit dialing; and decided on the Motorola IHF1000 model after reading reviews.

(yep; I know you see the external controller, external speaker, and microphone... I'll get to those reworks later below)

The IHF1000 comes as a complete handsfree bluetooth solution; minus the integration into an existing car radio system. The unit has flying leads that can mute a radio and provide L/R audio to a car radio input -  if you can figure out how to connect it into your existing radio.



the blue buttons on the right are receive volume control.

To answer the call, you push the typical green button.  To hangup, you press the red button.  When receiving a call, the IHF1000 bluetooth girl announces "call (followed by the phone number)".  If you don't recognize the number or don't want to take the call regardless...  press the red button and  the bluetooth girl speaks "call ended".

To make a call, you press the center "M" button, the BT girl says "ready for command" and then you hear a beep (meaning the unit is now listening for your voice). your voice command choices are:
* "dial number" and it prompts you to speak the actual phone number
* "phone voice tag (name)" this will use voice command already in your cell phone (assuming it has the capability)
* "call (IHF1000 contact name)"  The IHF1000 allows you to store a contact list within itself; along with it's own voice tags. Although my cell phone probably allows for voice dialing, I've never set it up.  And I don't have to now because I elected to use the built in voice-tag contact list of the IHF1000.  In this setup I say "call Yvonne work" or "call home".  It repeats it and asks for a yes/no confirmation.

during an incoming call, the BT girl says either "call from  936-827-1234" or "call from: Yvonne work" if that number is stored in the contact list.

This IHF1000 car kit is exactly like the reviews I read, very capable, extremely clean audio in both directions.  The setup config, bluetooth pairing,  and contact list insertions are all done via voice. If more indepth  vehicle integration is not on your want-list... you need go no further !

The only wiring was a ground, batt, and ignition connection (although there are line-level audio wires and a mute wire for advanced integration). 
The device syncs-up with your phone as soon as the key is turned to start the engine. 

Vehicle Integration
I located two interfaces that would connect the IHF1000 bluetooth car kit into the existing radio system... that used existing buttons already in the vehicle (no need to use the external controller supplied with the hands-free car kit). 

One used the existing OnStar mirror buttons and the existing microphone; which at-first sounded perfect. Sadly though, it required the disabling (unplugging) of the OnStar module; thus rendering the OnStar system inoperative.  I wanted OnStar to still work.

The other integration system used the existing  radios steering-wheel buttons to control the bluetooth when on a call... and switch back to radio control when not on a call.  With this setup ( the PAC BLU-GM29):

it did not disable Onstar... they both still work; and this is the  unit I went with. Although; it still requires the use of an external microphone (but I hid it anyways in the factory location - more on this later below).
One cool thing about the PAC BLU-GM29 is it sends  operational text to be displayed on  the DIC... using the vehicles data bus (more on that later).

The PAC BLU-GM29:

 has a radio harness with the necessary male/female radio connectors for my 2008 Avalanche.  Installation was quick, easy, no cutting of wires. It also has a harness to connect to three different hands-free car kits:  the Motorola IHF1000, the Parrot CK3000, and the EGO Talk.  During a phone call, the callers voice is heard through the radios front speakers; the car-kits supplied external speaker is not used.

Here is how the GM-BLU29 uses the steering-wheel controls for the phone:


Steering Wheel buttons are controlling the radio - and then  a call comes in - the radio is muted (and the little cell icon shows up on the radios display).  As the IHF1000 BT girl announces the call, press the SW up-arrow button  to answer- or press the down arrow to reject.   At the end of the call, press the down arrow SW button, the BT girl says "call ended" and then the radio is unmuted and the SW buttons are automatically switched to controlling the radio.  During the call, the SW volume buttons  still control the radios volume - increasing/decreasing the callers voice amplitude.

To place a call, you first press and hold  the SW "SRCE" button until you hear a beep; and the DIC displays:

this lets you know that the SW controls have been manually switched to control the phone.  Then press the right arrow voice-command SW button to speak the dial command.  At the end of this call - once you press the down arrow end-call button, the SW controls again are automatically switched back over to the radio.

During a call the DIC displays this message:


THere is a way to adjust the IHF1000's volume - independantly of the radios volume.  When in this mode the DIC displays:

but this adjustment is made only one time... trying to match the callers voice level to the radios normal volume level setting.  Once you get it matched - you'll never need to get into this mode again.  From then on, the callers voice level will be adjusted solely by the radio.

The only thing left is the external microphone.  I have to use it (my only other choice was using the other interface that disabled OnStar all-together).  I removed the overhead console and placed it on my work bench:


notice the location of the factory OnStar mic and another identical "vent" (grille) on the opposite side.  Here is what was  underneath on mine:

the notches in the unused vent are not punched through. I opened them up,  and moved the OnStar mic to that position - and mounted the BT car-kits mic in the OnStars original location (I removed the guts from the car kit mics  little black housing):


If you're not bothered using the car-kits external microphone as it comes in the kit... then you don't need to go this extra step.  I wanted a totally hidden installation.

Operation of this is almost exactly  to the factory OnStar cell.  In fact,  the IHF1000 BT girl sounds very similar to the  girls voice with the OnStar system.

there was plenty of room under the center console  to locate  the modules:


the only real wiring I had to do was:

IHF1000..........................PAC BLU-GM29
Green-------------------------Red (provides the switched accessory 12v...with RAP)
Black--------------------------Black (ground)
Orange-----------------------White/Blue (left audio)
Blue---------------------------Black/White (right audio)
Yellow------------------------Yellow/Red (mute signal)

Red--------------------------- to vehicles BATT feed (I connected to the cigar plugs "+" wire)

The IHF1000 and PAC BLU-GM29 are still powered  during RAP after you turn off the ignition (until the timer times-out or you open the drivers door). 

[bluedevil]

Sounds interesting.  Will this also work on older models?

[Mike Mercury]

you can do a search "by vehicle" on the PAC website:
http://www.pac-audio.com/
near the bottom of the page.

Here is what they have listed for a 2004 Avalanche:
http://www.pac-audio.com/productDetails.aspx?ProductId=617&CategoryID=25

The bluetooth car kit is not vehicle specific. You only need a vehicle specific interface if you seek  ease of  integration to your factory car radio & use existing controls... and the other geeky features it may offer.

I must say the Motorola BT car kit's controller is not all that large, and is not ugly by any means.  My goals wouldn't allow for an external controller - thus the need for the additional interface; your goals may differ. 

[bluedevil]

Thanx for the links.   Here in Illinois will be illegal to use cells while driving January 1st

[Main One]

Thanx for the links.   Here in Illinois will be illegal to use cells while driving January 1st

That's good to know.

[Mike Mercury]

Here in Illinois will be illegal to use cells while driving January 1st

what ??? 

even hands-free ?

[bluedevil]

what ??? 

even hands-free ?

Hands-free is ok.    I guess dialing is considered texting.

That reminds me, i need to setup the bluetooth in my wifes vehicle.

[oHIobellboy]

Nice write up and great install 

[Mike Mercury]

sorry about the red X's... I switched domains. 

Pics are now showing again.