MyVolt.com On a PC

[Xzlon]

After much discussion with my Volt Advisor and at least 8 advisors in OnStar I maybe finally understand what is available from the Web site MyVolt.com. And I am not sure I like the answer. If a person logs into the web page from their PC it states that it is connecting with the car to obtain the charge status. After a while it states that it could not get a charge status update. It also has the commands for door lock and unlock, start the car and sound the horn command buttons. If pressed these commands state an access is working but end by saying Failed. The site also has Diagnosis and Maintenace sections. In one section down on the bottom of the screen it has a link to mobile apps for OnStar MY LInk.

What I understand now is that the Diagnosis and Maintenace data is updated monthly, although mine states the last update to be 1/14/2011. I guess this data is supposed to be emailed also, but I have not received the email. The Onstar Tech people talk all the way around this but have no answer for why I have not gotten an update or an email. One of the 5 reps I talked to today said he will input a request and that within 8 days I should get the email.

On the command portion of the MyVolt web page one OnStar Rep said these commands are available only from a mobil cellphone device. My Volt Advisor and 7 out of the 8 Onstar advisors said these commands should work from the PC. Seems like the lone OnStar advisor is most likely correct. But what I don't understand is why the MyVolt web site seems to receive the command and tries to complete it. Nothing is mentioned on the site that these commands require the mobile device. Same in the OnStar Owner's Guide under the MyVolt.Com section on page 19.

Has anyone else tried to get a clarification on what MyVolt.Com should offer. Is this a problem of access to my car by OnStar or should this whole command section be label "For Mobil Access Only'' A real mess anyway!! I would like to have the current battery and range info. I can live without the remote commands from my PC.

[ChuckR]

The door lock and unlock, start the car and sound the horn commands are available from a PC, but ONSTAR has to have successfully connected to your car for them and the battery charge state to work. If you don't get the charge status hit the "try again" link until ONSTAR connects to your car.

[hamchief]

I picked up mine on 1/8.
MyVolt usually works for me, but not always. I spent alot of time last week in airports using wireless on my laptop. It didn't work even one time. I checked it this morning from work and it was OK, slow, but OK.
Those commands will work from a PC, I have used them. However, if you're not connecting enough to get a charge status, you will not be able to execute any control commands. There are the other functions on the site that say, "Coming Soon" - when? I can't get an answer.
As far as the OnStar diagnostics update, I have to agree with you 100%. When I brought the car home, I noticed that the tires were only at 31psi. I filled them up to 35. That was on January 8. MyVolt still shows 31. I have not yet received my diagnostic e-mail. The OnStar reps were very nice and tried to help, but they weren't very knowledgeable with the MyVolt.com site or capabilities.
My Volt advisors and the OnStar folks seemed to be pushing the MyLink app. However, I can't load it on my Android tablet that my kids gave me as a present - specifically for the MyLink app.
How about a Blackberry app????????

[Slapshot28]

I just tested remote-starting from a PC. It works like a charm. There is about a 30-second delay in communicating in each direction with the Volt through a PC or a handheld. There's been some discussion on this, and it feels like OnStar may be using the SMS network (text messaging). Definitely it is not WiFi, although that would be awesome. Text messages from OnStar to my handlheld come from an e-mail address (as opposed to a short code), so OnStar likely is using an SMTP-to-SMS gateway for sending messages to my phone. That means that some cell phones on certain carriers may not work so well. I'm on Verizon, and I have no doubt that AT&T will work well also.

Chris

[Xzlon]

The door lock and unlock, start the car and sound the horn commands are available from a PC, but ONSTAR has to have successfully connected to your car for them and the battery charge state to work. If you don't get the charge status hit the "try again" link until ONSTAR connects to your car.

Thanks ChuckR. I have run the "try again' numerous times today and over the last month. I even took my car down to the nearest town that had a Starbucks and tried with my Tablet PC and with my laptop just in case it was an out-of-range problem. Today I had OnStar do a scan of the car to check for trouble codes to make sure they could access the car. No trouble codes were reported. I guess I will let this go until I go in for the first shop visit.

[ammPilot]

I have also noticed that MyVolt.com is slow, though today's update of the iPhone OnStar MyLink app seems to have improved communication performance. Quick test: it took just over a minute and a half to refresh the status on MyVolt.com. After noting that it's pretty cool to be able to do something like this at all, it certainly does seem as though that's an awfully long time.

[voltowner]

Nothing for windows mobile smart phone too. And the myvolt.com web page used code that doesn't work on all computers or my mobile phone. Don't want don't what to have to buy a new phone to accesss my car. I have been considering downloading the desktop shell for Android developers. But think it might not work anyway. I love my volt but would never own an Iphone.

[doubledave]

hamchief,
So you have an Android tablet but the app market doesn't have the onstar mylink app listed for your device? Luckily it is Android and there are ways around this. Have someone with the app on their Android phone save the Onstar app .APK app file and send it to you. (PM me if you would like me to send it to you). I'd bet this would be one way to make it work.

You definitely get much more information and control with the mobile app than with myvolt.com. (for example the tire pressures on the mylink app update every time you refresh, but on myvolt.com, they only update when you get your monthly report).

[ctdeng0]

For Mac users, MyVolt.com does not work on Safari browser, works fine on my iphone. Once in a while I have an issue connecting with the car on both a PC and my iphone. I would like to see Onstar update the two application so you get the same information on each.