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portable xm radios okay/good for a prius?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by knownasmichael, Jul 29, 2007.

  1. knownasmichael

    knownasmichael New Member

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    I just bought a skyfi3 xm portable radio from amazon. Does anyone know if they sound good connected to the aux port? I would get a factory installed xm radio but i dont like the fact that you are limited to 10 charactets in some priuses, cant record, cant pause, etc. The skyfi3 can be paused up to 30 mins, can record live radio, and can be taken anywhere else. It also comes with the car kit. But yeah, does anyone have any experience with these xm radios in their priuses???
     
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    I think you get 16 characters with your '07 and the integrated unit..someone with an '07 can elaborate on that.

    The portables are fine, of course. My wife uses on in her Highlander Hybrid with a cassette adapter...I find the cassette noise annoying. We've used it with the FM modulator as well and it seems to be OK.
     
  3. GadgetMan2

    GadgetMan2 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(michael_prius @ Jul 29 2007, 05:18 PM) [snapback]487178[/snapback]</div>

    I just put the Stiletto 100 in my Prius and hooked it to the aux input. Amazing clear sound! If a good tune or talk show comes on, I can record and place in my "library" with one touch. Plus if the phone rings, the audio mutes just like any other audio in the Prius. I can pop out the Siletto and take it with me as an MP3 player and also load it up with MP3 and WMA to play in the Prius. Pretty much the best of both worlds. I installed the car dock on the area right in front of the center console under the dash and ran the power and audio cords into the center console. The antenna wire went under the center console, under the driver seat and up to the headliner in the center pillar, along the edge of the headliner and out the back hatch (there was a divet for the wire to run under the weather striping and the nag antenna went right behind the radio antenna on the roof). Very fast and easy install, and it is like Tivo for satellitte radio!
     
  4. pingman

    pingman New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(michael_prius @ Jul 29 2007, 04:18 PM) [snapback]487178[/snapback]</div>
    it sounds great after you inline connect a ground loop isolator from radio shack
     
  5. frankie_delaware

    frankie_delaware Junior Member

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    I have the XM Roady 1, and use the Aux jack. Sounds fine (but XM fidelity isn't CD quality). I place the magnetic antenna on the center speaker console. I occasionally get some dropout, but it isn't bad. I live in So. Cal., not a lot of tall buildings or tall trees, though.

    fd
     
  6. knownasmichael

    knownasmichael New Member

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    thanks all for ur replies.
    efusco, i was under the impression that some 2006/2007 priuses couldnt do 16 characters. Nonetheless, it doesnt really matter cause I really wanna be able to record and pause.

    gadgetman, i was looking at the sirius stiletto 100 before i bought the sfyfi3. The only reason i would want sirius over xm is cause of howard stern. other than that, i think xm offers better programming and better music from what ive read online. So yeah, thats why i chose the xm skyfi3. Also, the skyfi3 cheaper by 100 bucks (98 dollars on amazon) and u can also put in some minisd cards to expand your music. Oh and it comes with the car kit, a must for me since it will be used for driving from LA to SD at least 2 times a week.

    pingman, whats a inline connect? why wouldnt the aux plug in be enough for it to sound good?

    frankie, i was looking at xm roady too since its cheap but i wanna be able to take the player with me too....like in the office or running, etc.
     
  7. FreshAirGuy

    FreshAirGuy New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(michael_prius @ Jul 29 2007, 06:18 PM) [snapback]487178[/snapback]</div>

    We have a Tao portable XM2go with roof antenna plugged into the 07 aux port.
    The Tao has a remote control. I have my portable leaning up in the lower console tray.
    I can read the display easily both night and day and change channel record playback etc with the remote.
     
  8. aaf709

    aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan

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    I use a Pioneer AirWare portable XM radio, which is mounted to the hump (it also comes with a mount for the A/C vent).

    [​IMG]

    I have a 2005 so the output is connected to the AUX connection of my DICE unit (for my iPod). Like the Tao mentioned above I have a remote if I need to make a change.
     
  9. GadgetMan2

    GadgetMan2 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aaf709 @ Aug 1 2007, 03:37 PM) [snapback]488776[/snapback]</div>
    Since you showed yours, I felt the need to show mine :)

    I contimplated getting the intergrated reciever, but now I am VERY glad I got this one. If a good tune comes on I can record and add to my library with one touch. Very handy.
     

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  10. knownasmichael

    knownasmichael New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GadgetMan2 @ Aug 1 2007, 05:14 PM) [snapback]488945[/snapback]</div>
    nice pics. do any of you have weird high pitch hissing sounds coming out of the speakers at loud volumes??? i am on my skyfi3, weird
     
  11. GadgetMan2

    GadgetMan2 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(michael_prius @ Aug 1 2007, 08:51 PM) [snapback]488966[/snapback]</div>
    Not here. I was impressed on how clear and how good it sounds. My past Sirius recievers have been FM modulator hookups and that is always terrible sounding.
     
  12. pingman

    pingman New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(michael_prius @ Aug 1 2007, 07:51 PM) [snapback]488966[/snapback]</div>
    i did till i bought a ground loop isolator from radio shack for like 17 bucks and it solved that issue
     
  13. knownasmichael

    knownasmichael New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pingman @ Aug 2 2007, 04:52 AM) [snapback]489165[/snapback]</div>

    yeah i bought one too on ebay a few days ago, hopefully it fixes it too. its really annoying during talk shows
     
  14. LKJR

    LKJR Junior Member

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    I also have an Xm Roady with the antenna on the middle speaker grill...like "Frankie Delaware" I have decent reception and just get a few drops in the woods, etc... I just "feed" it through the FM...one less wire to deal with ...the sound is good enough....can you do that with the portable? I don't change channels very often (listen to Water Colors mostly) and I keep the Roady hidden in the bottom pull out compartment (that way I don't have to stash it away everytime I park)... I guess it wouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure out I have XM when they see the antenna on the dash, but I almost always have my sun shade up so its not so obvious.
     
  15. GadgetMan2

    GadgetMan2 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LKJR @ Aug 2 2007, 09:03 PM) [snapback]489688[/snapback]</div>
    The Sirius Stiletto has an FM modulator in the car dock, and if the location of the dock is too far from the stereo to allow the FM signal to be recieved, there is also an antenna extention that allows fine tuning. But with the aux input in the Prius, the sound is MUCH better then through the FM radio. The remote control comes in handy for changing channels or changing to playing recorded music from the library (or one touch recording of favorites when they come on).
     
  16. growltiger

    growltiger New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Jul 29 2007, 02:41 PM) [snapback]487189[/snapback]</div>
    <div align="left">Yes, this is true. (I own a 2007 Prius and I installed a Toyota OEM XM radio. If memory serves they are Pioneer units.) 16 is better than 10. But I hope the day is not too far in the future when the powers that be introduce scrolling song/artist information.
    </div>
    <div align="left">Before I installed the factory XM radio, I used an Inno via the AUX port. Great sound. But I would rather have the song information in the MFD than have to sneak a peek of the portable radio. Which is also why I just added a DICE so that my iPod is now one with my Prius.</div>
     
  17. PoutyPrius

    PoutyPrius New Member

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    My stock radio did not have an aux-in, so I used a Delphi FM DirectConnect. It was really easy to run the antenna (behind the whip antenna), in to the car, under the headliner, through the side trim pieces, behind the glove, and all mounted behind the plastic trim in the front. The only visible part is the cable that goes from the DirectConnect to my Pioneer XM Inno2. Obviously it cannot be controlled from the radio, but the tiny remote control is pretty easy to get the hang of. Its a pisser to get the radio out though, eh?
    Sara
     
  18. eurosteve

    eurosteve Member

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    I have the SkiFi2 which I mounted in the cupholder closest to the daskboard using the Arkon SR033 Satellite Radio Cup Holder Mount for Delphi SkyFi and Roady Receivers (from Amazon.com). I also bought the Crutchfield sound isolator - PAC SNI-1/3.5 Minijack Ground Loop Noise Isolator. I use the AUX jack in the arm rest. I put the antenna in the middle, all the way in the front of the dashboard, close to the window. The wire runs nicely along the windshield, out of sight.

    The sound is great. The stock Prius radio isn't so good but the SkiFi 2 is putting out a good signal.