New Sirus Satellite Radio options.

To update everyone, I disconnected the antenna from my SC-C1 tuner and connected it to a Starmate Replay that I have "mounted" in the CD tray. I say "mounted" in that it is just wedged in there, it fits tightly and nicely. I punched a hole in the back of my CD tray to run the power in (from the power port on the lower right dash for now), the antenna in and the audio out cable, which I have going under the passenger floor mat and seat and into the center console. I added a PAC ground loop isolator to kill the hum, and all in all it is a fairly clean install with great sound quality. I noticed no heat issues at all, having turned off the FM transmitter as suggested in other forums, apparently the FM transmitter generates additional heat.

I also bought the DIN faceplate for the Starmate, but without taking apart the entire dash to install behind the CD tray door, it doesn't fit. That is on my list for a coming weekend. The Starmate unit actually fits nicely without it, but it will look very slick when done.

So now comes the hard part do I stay with the Starmate Replay install or go back to the SC-C1 setup???

The Starmate offers:

10 pre-sets x 3 bands (30 total) available via hard buttons and/or remote (+)
Song/Artist Seek Memory feature - this is really cool to me (+)
Dedicated display screen for full song/artist display, never have to take MFD off of navi or info screens (+)
Good install behind the door of the CD tray (+ compared to any dash/window mounts, but - compared to SC-C1)
Wires running to power and aux-in jack, but I'm sure I can conceal these later if need be (-)
Controllable line out level...I have it balanced with AM/FM (+)

The SC-C1 + TOYSC1 offers:

Super clean install, everything hidden (+)
Integrated with MFD (+)
Works (kind of) with steering wheel controls (+)
Have to switch screens between pre-sets & artist/song info (-)
Have to switch screens between audio functions and navi/info screens (-)
Steering wheel controls for up/down only do channel, not preset (-)
Low audio level, unable to balance against other inputs (-)

As you can see from my summary, I think I am leaning to keeping the Starmate and ditching the SC-C1 setup. The Starmate is a slightly less of a clean install (although I can route the aux-in wire better I'm sure) - but the features are better on the actual radio.

Update: after a few days of use, I am definitely keeping the Starmate setup, I will be selling my TOYSC1 + SC-C1 setup on ebay in the next few weeks, I will post a link for you guys to buy it from me if interested, I will let it go for cheap.

 

i emailed tss radios about the low volume of the TOSc1 unit. He said this happens on certain oem hu's and has been reported mostly with hondas. But he told me about this unit here

SoundLinq SLS2 Toyota Sirius Interface

which will interface with scc1 still



it cost 200 bucks though, but SQ is supposed to be louder and cleaner...

 

Congrats on the install, I'm glad my instructions helped. Good point about the side panel clips. I should have mentioned that, cause it happened to me too. When the side panels are removed the metal clip will be left behind, and need to be removed from the hatch and put back on the trim piece before reinstall of trim piece. I pushed one through also, but was able to use a straightened coat hanger piece to slide the lost clip over from the right corner of hatch interior to the center and fish it out through an access hole. I didn't want to leave it in there. There is a gap in the sheet metal of the hatch layers in the corner that i put the coat hanger wire through to push it over. Half luck/skill, but it can be done. Sorry it happened to you too.

I had some slight interference too, but if positioned in just the right place the unit no longer interfere with glove box operation. Littel trial and error.

I've noticed the lower volume level with these units, compared to the other inputs, too. Shame, but acceptable for the price.

Another little nuisence is when I leave and return to SAT3, it tunes the first preset, instead of remembering what preset that was selected before.
Doesn't do that on SAT1 or 2, They remain on previous selected preset. Wierd.

 

I bought the package from TSS:
Toyota Lexus and Scion SIRIUS Connect TOY-SC1 SCC1 Package

$146.99 w/free shipping.

Then I took it to Best Buy and they installed it for $52 - WAY worth it to me, I wouldn't even try to attempt installing it myself!

I originally asked him to put the antenna on the dash because I didn't really want to see it on the roof, but to my chagrin the signal kept cutting out, so I took it back in to them and they installed it on the roof, right behind my regular antenna.

It works wonderfully through my MFD - and sounds great! I couldn't be happier!

 

That is weird, particularly considering that mine doesn't do that. It tunes to the previously selected preset on each SAT screen. Yours may be a little quirky.

 

So no one else is experiencing big problems with the plug from the Sirius unit staying in the head-unit?
This was an obvious deal-breaker to me.
I'm wondering if I just had a plug that wasn't quite molded correctly.

Considering giving it another try...

Is there a possibility some of the other issues - low volume, channel rather than preset changing via the steering wheel controls - can be fixed with the current hardware version? I'm wondering if I wait 6 months if those problems are corrected... <I wish the firmware was upgradeable, that's all it would need I'd bet>

 

I would give the plug another try. After you get it plugged into the back of the radio, pull the locking tab down and it should lock securely in place. It doesn't give any re-assuring click, but it will lock. Pull the tab, then tug a little, if it stays plugged you got it. If it slides out, try again.

The steering wheel control / preset issue is no longer an issue for me. Actually, if I had to choose one or the other, I'd go with the way it is, allowing the steering wheel to simply tune the next station. I can do the presets on the MFD. Also, many of my presets are in numerical channel order anyway, so the steering control does tunes those "presets", for all intensive purposes, when I tunes the next channel. Does that make sense?

The volume issue is not that annoying now either, because my radio simply stays on Sirius 99% of the time now. I love it, and never really thought I would.

Hard to say if Directed will try to "fix" anything.

 

I did a glove box install for the TOYSC1/SCC1 and a roof mount for the antenna. I was expecting but had no problems with the plug in the back of the unit. I pushed it firmly into the back of the unit. There was no perceptable click but when I tugged on the wires the plug didn't come out. Took about 80 minutes last weekend. Everything works great!

 

Ok, I can get the two units so how do in install it? I have rooted around the net and cannot find anything that discribes how to do this.

 

I just took it to Best Buy and let them do it, it was around $50, and they were done in less than an hour. Well worth $50 to me! It works great!!!

 

I have my TOY-SC1 and SC-C1 listed on ebay now:

Sirius TOY-SC1 & SC-C1 Connect Pack for Toyota Prius - eBay (item 120254053609 end time May-04-08 06:17:46 PDT)

$109

 

Going, Going, Gone! Sold.

 

Did you try looking at the early pages of this thread?

 

I just spoke with a tech at Directed Electronics and the SCV Dock is supposedly available now. I have put a few calls into local distributors of their products and they are checking price and availability. As they explained:

Mobile Sirius Sat receiver ----(connects to)---> SCV Dock ----> Toy-SC1 -----> Satellite ready Prius radio


My huge question is on my 2004 (with no sat radio or even a sat radio button)....can I connect this an work it through my navigation head unit?

I have heard some yes's and seen some 2005+ only's, online. Does anyone know if my radio (6disc changer) is compatable?....I really don't want to order all the parts and take apart the dash to find out no.
Thanks!

BTW here are some excellent installation guides:

Toy-SC1 offical installation guide
http://www.tss-radio.com/images/toysc1revised.pdf

For an xm but very detailed for take apart and wire running.
https://www.metrotpn.com/documents/PDF%20Files/Prius/Eddie%27s%20XMRadio%20Install/PriusXMradio3.2.pdf

Source (very messy)
http://www.hybridutopia.com/index.php?main_page=rss_feed&feed=products&cPath=67_68_73

 

I have a 2008 Package 2...I bought the Sirius SC-C1 and the TOY SC1tuner and interface unit.

I brought it to get installed today, the shop I brought it to installed it and then informed me that my 2008 does not have a Satellite ready Radio.

Everything hooked up fine but there was no way to switch to "Satellite Mode" as there is no satellite (SAT) button on my radio.

The buttons I have are (Right to left)
-Volume-
Seek.Track-
AM-
FM-
Disk.Aux
Scan
Tune.File

Is this true that I cannot hook up Satellite radio to this button??? Please dont tell me I am SOL

Is ther anyway around this??

Thanks

-Matt

 

I have heard rumors you can use the AM button and just hit it twice to activate Sat radio.....why not use the AUX function?

I still don't have it hooked up in mine because I have not had the time or $ to deal with it.

 

I called the shop and they told me that they hit the AM button twice even 3 times and no luck...

Has anyone confirmed that hitting teh AM button more than once will switch to teh satellite radio???


how can you use the aux function? what do you need?


-Matt

 

You should see it by hitting the AM button. I didn't see it on mine but it turned out the TOY-SC1 was defective. As soon as I installed the replacement the SAT option showed up.

 

thanks man. how did you determine the SC1 was defective?

 

I installed this setup last night in my 2008 Touring package 6. After failing in my attempt to install it during PriusChat's downtime on Tuesday, I tried again yesterday after using 9G-man's excellent post (#84) that includes pictures of the entire installation. It took me about 30 minutes. Hardest part was unscrewing the bolt, but that was just a matter of finding the right tool. After scraping up my knuckles with screwdrivers that were too small, I found a nice long fat Phillpshead that took the bolt off with ease in just seconds.

Everything worked great until I snapped everything back into place this morning. Must have knocked out the plug because it no longer works. Still, after knowing exactly how to do it, I don't think it will take me more than 15 minutes to open it up, replug it, and snap it all back in.

I'm not really good at this sort of thing, so I was infinitely proud of myself for having installed this, even if I hit a snag. I could never have done it without all the great posts in this thread clearly detailing how to do it. The manuals were useless for installation purposes.