New Sirus Satellite Radio options.

Re: New Sirus Satellite Radio options. TOY-SC1 installed

I just installed the new Directed Electronics TOY-SC1 and Sirius module SCC1.
Install was less than one hour and it was installed in a 2006 Prius with the base radio. Works very well with great SQ, 16 presets and 16 character display (can scroll).

TOY-SC1 was $99 USD
SCC1 $29 Canadian (on sale)

So now have Sirius in my Prius controlled by the touch screen.

NOTE: My base radio did have a satellite plug at the back of the radio despite it's lack of a 'SAT' button (AM is really a SAT button) I was able to access the back of the radio via the glove box method.

 

Re: New Sirus Satellite Radio options. TOY-SC1 installed

Excellent news. Where did you put the unit(s) ?
Did Sirius offer any specials when you activated service, such as waive activation fee?

 

I placed the TOY-SC1 and the SCC1 together at the back of the lower glovebox. The units "bolt" together with a bracket supplied. The cable that comes with the TOY-SC1 is long enough to go from the back of the radio to the glovebox. There are two small holes at the bottom of the glove box, just the right size for the cable. There was enough room at the back of the radio to mount both units, but I would have had to take the dash apart to attach them securely. Since there still is 80cm of snow on the ground and it was -15C yesterday, I used the glove box method to get to the back of the radio.

and 9G-man, no special deals...I just added it to my existing Sirius Canada account.

I called/e-mail about a dozen places for the TOY-SC1....finally found it at TSS Radio for $99USD.

 

I also got my Toy-SC1 from Barneys Electronics within amazon.com f $85 plus shipping did the fast shipping total came 2 $92.56 ordered on 03/11/08 got it 2day 03/13/08 installed it in less than 30 minutes used glove box method also I am happy now just 1 question volume is low on SAT how do U turn it up got a blast of sound when I hit the mode button on steering wheel and was on FM LOL

 

Can either (or both) of you post pics on glove box install? Also, how did you both route the antenna wire? The PDF manual (in another thread here) that I saw involved tearing up a lot of stuff to hide the wires.

UPS shows my TOY-SC1 is out for delivery so I might try to pop it in tonight if I have enough sunlight.

 

You're saying inside the back of the glovebox back, right? I had considered that, or maybe the outside back of the glove box, but don't think there is enough room between there and the cabin-air fan unit. Also considering placing it inside the pop-off panel below the glove box...

I'm starting to get a little disappointed in Dogstar. I ordered Jan. 13, and still nothing. You folks are already getting yours!!!

 

I'm more than disappointed with them. It's been FOUR days now with their voicemail box full (and unable to accept messages) as well as their online help/chat closed. If they're on vacation, they should state that on the site. I just don't want to hear that they're using my CC number in the Bahamas to fund their vacation. I'm just about ready to cancel the card that I gave them and get a new number just to be on the safe side.

Do yourself a favor and buy it from TSS. I got mine last night and I'm just going to install it. $50 (extra) is a small price to pay for piece of mind. Besides, every Sirius solution for the Prius before the TOY-SC1 was a hell of a lot more pricey than what I wound up with.

 

Could you go into more detail about how you installed it? I have mine now and I'm itching to do the install myself tonight.

After reading the manual that came with the TOY-SC1, it states that you should install it flat. I'm assuming that it means not stacked on top of each other, but I don't know if mounting the two (side by side with the bracket) should be horizontally or vertically. Is there any way that you can post a pic of the final placement of the two in your car?

 

I placed the two units (attached together with the mounting bracket) on the lower back shelf of the bottom of the lower glove box. I routed the radio cable and antenna cable thru two one of the two holes that exist on the bottom of the glovebox.

I placed them there for two reasons:

1. Since it is still a cold Canadian winter up here I didn't want to take apart the dash to mount the units behind all that plastic. Placing the units in the lower glove box was was quick and easy. From I can observe, the units stay cool, so ventilation appears not be be a problem.

2. Should an XM/Sirius merger take place and they replace the SCC1 with a different tuner, then it is easy to replace. (I doubt this will happen, but who knows?)

Hope this helps....Kieran

 

Thanks for the info, but is there any way that you could snap a picture of the placement of them? Did you screw them in place or just place them behind the glove box?

 

I'm slightly confused on the install here.

1. Are you saying you didn't dis-assemble the dash and remove the radio? It sounds like you reached behind the radio from behind the glove box is that correct? Is there any info on doing this or any tips?

2. How many connections do you have to make to the back of the headunit? Just one? Is it easy to find from "feel"?

3. Cables in/out to the Sirius Tuner module - is it just one to the headunit and an antenna feed?

Looking forward to getting this done next week.

Oh and for those wondering, I ordered from TSS. Have used them before, they are great!

 

Yeah...it did...except I'm too dumb to read AND understand your post completely. DUH (I now feel like such a dork for asking all of the questions)

Ok...the TOY-SC1/SC-C1 combo is now installed and activated in my '06 pkg 8! It was very simple and took about 45 mins to an hour just to make sure I was being careful. I could probably do it now in about 30 mins or possibly less.

Here's what I had to do:

1. Unfasten the glove box and I just let it sit on the floor in place--no need to remove
2. Remove the vent assembly on the right side of the radio
3. Unscrew and detach (for getting it out of the way) the wiring module behind the (now removed) vent

I used the Toyota Sirius installation guide PDF (found in this forum) as a guide on where stuff was behind the radio.

That's it. Very simple to DIY and Kieran's method of just putting it in the back portion of the glove box works well for me. I used the existing antenna that I had with my S50--that I had just covered with my back floor mats--very ghetto--and this time I routed it properly along the side moulding etc.

Happy to answer any questions for anyone.

 

I have a question, just for clarification. Does the TOY-SC1 harness just plug into an existing 'SAT' plug in the back of the radio, without unplugging a stock harness? Or, must the stock harness be unplugged from the radio, attached to the TOY-SC1 harness, and the TOY-SC1 harness then plugged into that hole.

While I've been patiently waiting for my TOY-SC1 to show up, I decided to go ahead an install the antenna today. I've had the SC-C1 tuner for quite a while now.....

I followed in the footsteps of others and put (hid) the antenna inside the rear spoiler. All went well, and I'll post pics shortly.

The other alternative was to put it under my sharkfin, but I decided I didnt want to put up with hassle of removing and replacing the sharkfin, order new sharkfin adhesive gasket, and remove/modify stock antenna base.

Now I'm really ready for Dogstar to get it's act together, and the remainder of the install should be quick and easy.

 

Something just occurred to me......this SC-C1 and Toy-Sc1 unit's size and configuration lends itself to a level of portability that had not occurred to me before. I was thinking how I will miss Sirius radio on the weekends or family trips because those times are spent in the family Sienna van.
But if I put a satellite antenna and radio harness in the van, I can easily make the unit portable between my Prius and the van.
Sirius in two cars for the price of one!

 

Anyone have a picture of the 16 character screen?

 

Yes, the dash DOES NOT have to be taken apart to install the TOY-SC1. You only have to remove one piece of vertical trim to reach a bolt. This bolt holds the distribution module in place. This module just has to to be moved out of the way, so you can reach the back via the glove box (see Bellboy's post)
The SAT port is located at the back to the left (facing radio) of the main radio plug. Plug in the cable that came with the TOY-SC1, power up the car and press the AM button until the SAT screen appears (you will hear channel 184 right away). The antenna was EASY to hide by placing it along the trim on the passenger side from back to front. I have a 2006 and even found that their was a notch on the back of the hatch for the cable (usually u have to add this notch but clearly the Prius was satellite antenna ready

I installed it on a -15C day in the middle of a snow storm, and it took only 45 minutes from opening the TOY-SC1 box to calling Sirius Canada to activate the SCC1 tuner. So in warmer climates you can do it in less time and even have time for a beer

Placing the TOY-SC1 in the lower glove box allows access to play with the settings. The default with the unit is SCROLL off. I turned it on to see what it looked like. It does scroll but I found it distracting while driving, so turned SCROLL off again. As described in the manual, you have to unplug the power/data cable on the TOY-SC1 for the module to reset. (NOTE: when you do this, you lose your programming but it comes back after a minute or so but you do lose your resets)

The 16 presets are held in 3 memory banks and it is easy to set the presets. The steering wheel controls the unit to tune thru the presets or the channels. The 16 character display appears to handle almost all artists/sound titles (it can scroll more than 16 characters but I did not like it since the scroll was too fast for my liking) If no one posts pics by tomorrow, I can take a couple of pics and post them.

The TOY-SC1 works with 2005+ Prius even with the base radio (like mine).
A really cool device !

 

Please.

 

I really recommend searching here under "sirius install" and find the thread that contains the Toyota installation PDF (thought I deleted it--attached below). It gives a really nice view of the back of the radio. It shows that you have an open port between (in mine anyway) two plugs. Something that I didn't mention in my post is that I have a dental mirror that I had in my medicine cabinet that I used with a mini LED flashlight that helped me get a good look back there.

I'd really like to see some pics of that...hadn't heard of putting the antenna there before--I'd like to see how you placed it.

Screw them...really disappointed in their site and their service. They've lost my business if they can't come up with something to make things better. TSS was great with both purchases--I'd prefer to business with them after this. If I can't reach DS by next week, I'm calling my bank and getting a new CC so the number that I gave them won't be any good.

 

About the scrolling...

If I understand you correctly, you don't have the nav package in your Prius since you said that you don't have a SAT button and the scrolling works, yes? Maybe you can post a pic of your screen with the scrolling. I set mine to scroll just to see if it would work and it doesn't. I have a nav system and a SAT button.

So what I see with my 16 character display is this: "Howard Stern Sho"

I'll run out and grab a pic to post. Edit: posted pics.

 

Bell Boy U must unplug the harness after U change the settings 4 it 2 reset U can unplug it right @ the TOY-SC1 I thought mine didn't scroll until I did that and I don't have NAV or JBL just base model radio Hope that helps U out