1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

List of Hardware that Positively Works with the Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by rwithop, Oct 19, 2004.

  1. rwithop

    rwithop New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2004
    121
    0
    0
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, CA
    This sticky topic is a list of hardware products/mods currently known to work with the Prius.

    Many, many people have been asking, "Does XXXX product work with my Prius?" Now you can get the definitive answer. Below is a list of hardware products or modifications that definitely work. Let's keep adding to this list to make it an easy-to-use resource.

    When you post to this topic, please only add products that work right now. Not products in the making. Let us know where to get it and any brief description of your experience with it.

    PLEASE TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, RESPONSES, DISCUSSIONS, HOW TO'S, ETC. INTO A NEW TOPIC. (to keep this list clutter free.)

    Thanks.
     
  2. rwithop

    rwithop New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2004
    121
    0
    0
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, CA
    Factory Pioneer XM Radio Unit

    Factory Pioneer XM Radio Unit

    Want XM Satellite Radio integrated into your display and steering wheel controls?

    Coastal Dave is offering a factory unit from Pioneer at $410 - now $299!:

    http://www.coastaletech.com/xm_radio_in_prius.htm

    I believe many users here have had great success with it.
     
  3. jrt

    jrt New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2004
    4
    0
    0

    I have an ipod radio car adapter that works just fine in my car.
    The brand is "DLO TransPod Mobile FM Transmitter for Apple® iPod" and it's not cheap at $90-100.00, but it does work, and it will transmit on any frequency.
    Here's the link to one at 'smalldog' (no affiliation, but they are cheaper than most outfits).
    http://www.smalldog.com/product/12650727
    Jason

    BTW, the nice thing about the transpod is that it fits in the armrest console. I use a piece of velcro for extra stabilization of the 'arm'. It uses too much space in there, but it is hidden from view.
     
  4. rwithop

    rwithop New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2004
    121
    0
    0
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, CA
    AUX-POD - iPod interface to Prius works

    Many users claim to have used this iPod interface (AUX-POD) to the Prius via the CD-changer port on back of the radio.

    Cost: $159 plus PAC AB-TOY cable $7.95

    AUX-POD description:
    http://www.pac-audio.com/auxbox/default.htm

    Toyota Cable needed:
    http://www.pac-audio.com/auxbox/auxboxdeta...Vehicles&ID=218

    Purchase at:
    http://www.cardomain.com/sku/PACAUXPOD
    http://www.cardomain.com/shop/item.pl?sku=PACABTOY

    ---------------- UPDATE 12/2/04 ---------------------------
    This product had a name change to "iPod2Car".
    http://www.pac-audio.com/products/aai.htm

    My understanding is that many people are having trouble using this device in conjuction with other external devices like XM and external CD changers. Used alone I am told it changes songs and volume on your iPod just great. See the discussion thread at:

    http://www.priuschat.com/forums/ipod2car-w...hlight=ipod2car
     
  5. rwithop

    rwithop New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2004
    121
    0
    0
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, CA
    AUX-BOX plug in your MP3/XM radio with this Aux-in

    Need an audio input?

    Try the AUX-BOX and PAC AB-TOY Toyota cable that is required

    Gives you an Aux-in to the Prius via the CD-changer port on back of the radio.

    Cost: $69 plus cable $7.95

    AUX-BOX description:
    http://www.pac-audio.com/auxbox/default.htm

    Toyota Cable needed:
    http://www.pac-audio.com/auxbox/auxboxdeta...Vehicles&ID=218

    Purchase at:
    http://www.cardomain.com/item/PACAUXBOX
    http://www.cardomain.com/shop/item.pl?sku=PACABTOY

    ---------------- UPDATE 12/2/04 ---------------------------
    This product had a name change to "AUX2Car".
    http://www.pac-audio.com/products/aai.htm
     
  6. rwithop

    rwithop New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2004
    121
    0
    0
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, CA
    NEO-AUX BOX - audio input for your Prius MP3/XM

    Another audio input

    Jonathan posted that he uses the NEO-AUX with great success for his Rio MP3 player and SkiFi XM, as a RCA aux-in to the Prius stock radio.

    COST: $85 plus cable $7.95

    Just plug this baby in the back of the radio, into the CD changer port, using an additional toyota cable.

    NEO-AUX
    http://www.hotmp3gear.com/Auxinputadapter.htm

    I believe the cable is the PAC AB-TOY mentioned in previous posts.


    Jonathan's note to me about setup:
     
  7. ggalanti

    ggalanti Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2004
    71
    0
    0
    Location:
    Venice, California
    I'm interested in knowing more about the AUX-POD. I've ordered a Prius and love my iPod. Right now I use a cassette adaptor with it. Would the AUX-POD allow me to connect it directly? If so, how?
     
  8. bluefish

    bluefish New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2004
    4
    0
    0
    lose cd changer?

    if you have the 6 cd changer for your prius, would you lose this with the ipod2car device?
     
  9. pepa

    pepa New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2004
    102
    0
    0
    Location:
    Rockford, Illinois
    Furthermore - how about these of us who do not have the CD changer? Is the mentioned CD changer input present on the standard 04/05 Prius radio ( with single CD )?
     
  10. knowledgeseeker

    knowledgeseeker New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 18, 2004
    57
    1
    0
    Location:
    Walnut Creek, CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
  11. tara

    tara New Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2004
    31
    0
    0
    How about a list that just discusses which phones work the best with the Prius. There is so much info out there it is difficult to really know which phone works the best.

    Can any one help to guide me to a good review of just the current phones. I have been to the toyota talk site but that does not really give me the details I need to make a decision.

    I would like a phone that will work with my Prius and also my T3 Palm. I need ease of use. I am thinking about going with Cingular because of family members with that same carrier. I would like a camera but don't want to pay more than $400.00 and would really like something that costs less.
    Thanks for any help,
    Tara
     
  12. IsrAmeriPrius

    IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2004
    4,333
    7
    0
    Location:
    Southern California
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Cingular, AT&T and T-Mobile, as GSM carriers, have the best selection of Bluetooth enabled cellular phones.

    The selection offered by the CDMA carriers, Verizon and Sprint, is paltry and many of the features which work with the Prius are missing or disabled.

    You can read reviews of phones at GSM Arena (select PHONE FINDER from the menu on the left).
     
  13. ggalanti

    ggalanti Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2004
    71
    0
    0
    Location:
    Venice, California
    I'm a bit embarrassed to be asking this, but I have a very basic question. How does a bluetooth phone work with the Prius? If it's in my purse, can I make calls from the steering wheel? Does it have to be plugged into something? Do I dial on the phone itself or on the navigation screen? My phone is 2 years old, and doesn't even take pictures, so I'm a bit behind the times on this technology.

    Also, will I be able to download my address book from my Mac into a bluetooth phone?
     
  14. NiMH

    NiMH New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2004
    15
    0
    0
    Location:
    Calgary
    ggalanti:

    First you have to go through a simple process to "pair" your bluetooth phone with the interface in the car. You can set it up so that the car "discovers" the phone when it is present and automatically connects to it. From then on you can either initiate a call from the touch screen or answer a call from the touch screen or steering wheel.

    A few notes:
    - The bluetooth is a short range radio connection (frequency-hopping spread spectrum actually!) so you don't need to physically connect anything. I just leave my phone on my belt clip.
    - You have to have the bluetooth feature that comes with the navigation package.
    - Some phones can download their phonebook into the Prius phone book. Unfortunately this "bluetooth profile" is not present on my Blackberry 7290 and someother phones. There is no way to manually enter the numbers into the Prius phone book so I can't use it.
    - You can store some (18?) speed dial numbers on the Prius
    - Much of the user interface is disabled while the car is moving, though you can still answer calls.
    - The range of the connection is pretty good. My Prius has connected to my phone while parked in the garage with the phone in the house.
    - You can dial a call from the handset or the prius and it will route the audio through the handsfree in either case.
    - I have walked into my car while on a phone call to find that once the phone connects to the car the audio switches over the the handsfree in mid-call.
     
  15. bluefish

    bluefish New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2004
    4
    0
    0
    some more general info for geri-ann:

    as mentioned, you must have the bluetooth feature w/ your prius... i think that only the full package includes this. you don't actually make the call from your steering wheel, but rather with your nav screen (you can receive a call and hang up from your steering wheel). yes, you can leave it in your purse. you dial on the nav screen, or you can scroll through your phone book on the nav screen... but both of these features are disabled while you're moving. the quick-dial/speed dial feature, around 20 (?) of your favorite numbers on an easy-access screen list, CAN be accessed while driving. your phone doesn't have to be plugged into anything (unless you need power). but the first time that you use the phone w/ your Prius, you will have to sync it up and possibly upload the phone book.

    as for downloading your addresses from your Mac to the phone, that is specific to the phone (as are all of these features)... my Sony-Ericsson can do it, but when it uploads to the Prius it only gives one number per listing... for example, only someones home number, not the cell. there is apparently a work-around for my phone, and it does work properly with some phones. the new Motorola V3 can only upload 1 address at a time to the Prius and won't sync to the Mac via bluetooth, but it will sync via USB cable. my phone works fairly well but the sound quality is so poor that i've had to stop using it. every phone seems to work differently with the Prius and Macs/PCs in almost every respect. this is why we're here, to figure it out (and to share our mutual frustration).

    my apologies for any duplicate info from NiMH's excellent posting.
     
  16. tara

    tara New Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2004
    31
    0
    0
    So taking phone list transfer and audio quality etc into consideration, which phone works the best with the Prius?
    Tara
     
  17. bobm

    bobm Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2004
    10
    0
    0
    Location:
    Gardnerville, NV
    Has anyone tried or had any success with a Jabra A210 Multiconnector to connect their cell phones with their Prius?

    It's an add on for a non-bluetooth cell phone to connect between the phone & a headset. Iit uses bluetooth version 1.2 (the prius uses 1.0 from what i've read on this and other discussion groups). The Jabra specs on it states that it is supposed to be downward compatible with other versions of bluetooth.

    here's a link to the Jabra website. http://www.jabra.com

    I have emailed their support and will post any response i get.

    bob
     
  18. smackoww

    smackoww Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2004
    60
    0
    0
    Sony Ericsson T-637 cell phone works perfectly.
    entire phonebook uploads in one shot.