List of Hardware that Positively Works with the Prius

Sony Ericsson Z520a works with the Prius, both for Bluetooth hands free and (after some fiddling and retries) for transferring contact information.

It's the first quad band phone (international capable) from Sony Ericsson. Available from Cingular. Check Amazon.com for my full review.

 

You can use 5 playlist, alphabetic order. you can just put no. before your playlist name. There's no limit tracks. You will see track 100 for another 01. Yes, you can use touch screen. One of best interface I think. CD no. 6 is used for menu.

 

Does anyone know if there are two ice/link plus models at BestBuy - one for the Prius and one for all the others they list (the Prius is not on their list at our BestBuy), or is there just one for the Toyotas that works with the Prius?
Thanks
Lewis

 

From what I can tell, the Prius model is only available from PC Shop and directly from Denison right now...

I haven't found anyone else selling the Toyota version yet.

 

Like I send you a mail. It was a luck to see only one left Toyota version in Bestbuy.

 

Well, there are two BestBuys one hour from me in opposite directions. Both claim to have ice/links for the Toyota. But one says theirs is for the Prius and the other has a long list of Toyota models that doesn't include the Prius in the list.
So it there one for all Toyotas or a special one for the Prius?
Lewis

 

Well, it just Toyota version. It works fine.

 

Sprint's LG Bluetooth enabled phone partially works with Prius (Sprint disabled the ability to upload the phonebook to the Prius. Guess the don't think the phone will be used in cars...)

 

Not disabled. It never had that ability built in. Bluetooth was an afterthought in this phone. It was not designed to have OBEX, which is the required protocol to export the contact list from the phone to the car.

The newer Sprint Bluetooth phones, the Samsung A900, MM-A920 and MM-A940, can upload their phone books to the Prius, albeit, one entry at a time.

 

Nokia 6230i and Nokia 6280 both work. Both are GSM phones (use SIM card from Cingular or T-Mobile, maybe others in your region). Can only upload one phone number at a time, and it is tedious. Also must disconnect pop-port headset before BlueTooth will connect.
Phone rings both itself and through car speaker.

 

Report on the Ice Link Plus:
I took the words here and bought my unit from BestBuy for $199.
I used the aic_100i.pdf posted here as instructions on how to get to the port on the back of the Prius's radio. I have a new 2005 Package #4 Prius ( basic radio with CD slot, no tape, no changer, no navigation ).
The glove compartment comes out easily as does the left passenger vent. The screw over the whilte wire box is a little tricky ( and a bitch to get back in) but still straight forward. Getting your hand behind the radio is not a trivial task, but the slot is close to the right side and just behind the turner button as promised. Getting the plug into it is easier than I expected but still requires some patience and possibly some dexterity. I put the cradle onto the lower part of the vent and it sits well there. I was able to put the small connector plug through the plastic behind the attachment base and no wires show. Getting the pieces back on is no problem except I had a hard time getting the screw to the white wire box into its hole.
Now this part could take 15 minutes but took me much longer.
The unit functions as advertized. The sound quality is excellent to me. You can control it from the touch screen and steering wheel. But oh my, was figuring out how to do these functions very hard for me. There are two modes- control from the iPod where the steering wheel will advance a playlist and their way which works through playlists. These menus comes up on the iPod and are hard to read. Navigating them is by the Fast Forward on the touch screen and the tract up and down on the radio. Confusing yes. I never discovered how to get to the audiobooks from this setup, but I think the manual says you can. As this is for my wife, I chose the way where she can have control of the iPod which she knows. (If others want to write a clearer tutorial on how to use the ice link system, that would probably benefit us challanged users). Overall I am pleased.
As a side remark, I installed a Drive and Play from Harmon Karmon (Circuit City for $150) in a 2002 Accord which works well and is easy to use but a bitch to install - I hard wired it and it needs a separate harness which cost me $70. etc.
Feel free to email if questions or comments.
Lewis

 

Good job! So, your wife will enjoy this clean sound, right?

 

Pioneer AVIC N-2 Navigation & its XM Radio/Nav Traffic optional module.

 

Sirius S50 works in my 2005. I don't have the six CD changer. And I did need to buy an aux adapter too. The system uses the port for the CD changer, just hit DISC a second time and you get the satellite radio.

Also, after install, set the volume on the S50 to full, or you will get a loud surprise when you switch back to the single CD or AM/FM radio.

 

Does the iPod turn on and off when you turn the car on and off. Is it limited to 5 playlists? What year is your Prius.

Thanks for the info.

 

Was looking for an inexpensive and simple way to play two different iPods (an "ancient" second generation one and an iPod Mini) through the standard audio set-up on a 2005 Prius. Much to my surprise, I found it in a $15 solution, the NewerTech RoadTrip FM 87.9MHz Transmitter. Yes, it's an FM transmitter -- and yes, I was skeptical -- but I figured at worst I would be out $15. The thing actually works really well. The trick seems to be the combination of a powered transmitter and locking in on the unused 87.9 frequency. Sure it's not perfect. The same high-tension transmission lines and other things that affect standard FM reception also affect this, but in driving around the greater Tampa Bay area, I've been stunned, really, at how well this works. (An FYI: We also had an earlier generation iTrip, which didn't work at all in the Prius, let alone badly.) Couple the RoadTrip with the iSqueeze thingie to convert the cupholder into an iPod cradle, and you've got a cheap, reasonably elegant solution to taking the iPod on the road in a Prius. I recommend both.

 

Are there any new SiriusPrius type systems in the pipeline?

 

I have an XM Commander (Terk) that presently inputs through the FM. There are several adaptors available to integrate this tuner into factory and aftermarket radios through the CD port (I believe). Does anyone have an adaptor for this tuner for the Prius? The tuner looks similar to the PriusXM unit that they sell for $295, if this is the same tuner, is just the interface available?

 

I just got my Prius last night. I have a Toyota installed radio The JBL one for bluetooth and installed the Toyota Sirius tuner.

All works well, just make sure if you do this they put on the external antenna, not the one that they wanted to mount on my dashboard. It is worth the extra few dollars to do it right.

And it sounds so good!