Can a portable sirius radio be used HARDWIRED in?

I don't think it would. It looks like it's designed to plug into the AUX input that's on the 2006; although I don't think that's available on the #1 package.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(auart @ Sep 12 2006, 11:14 PM) [snapback]318773[/snapback]</div>

I have the Sirius player plugged into the jack on my 06 Prius, but I have used it successfully through the FM radio. You loose some fidelity, but it is not bad. I have found that you need to move the antennae towards the back of the car because of electrical interference if it is too close to the front. If your car has a cassette deck, the adaptors work well to play the radio through the cassette.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(auart @ Sep 13 2006, 05:56 AM) [snapback]318858[/snapback]</div>

Not necessarily. You could get a VAIS iPod Integration System that has an AUX input. That's $299. There may be some other Sirius accessories that will do the job, like what you were looking at originally. You'd have to do a search for that.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ttaylor @ Sep 13 2006, 09:06 AM) [snapback]318914[/snapback]</div>

There are two ways to do the FM transmitter. The most common today is simple as it does not require installation. Just give it 12v and the output from your Sirius and it will transmit a low power FM signal for your antenna to pick up. The advantage is it's easy. The disadvantage is that many cars drive by with similar boxes (most portable receivers have this built in) and there are a limited number of FM frequencies to choose from. Therefore there is often interference. In addition, you do lose a good bit of fidelity.

The second option is to install an inline FM modulator. This box gets 12v also, but usually hardwired to a switched 12v source, not the cigarette lighter and you also connect your sirius receiver's output to it. The difference is that you then take the antenna wire off of the back of the stereo system and plug it into the FM modulator and then plug the antenna out of the FM modulator into your stereo. The modulator then puts your audio source onto the antenna wire directly at the frequency you choose. The advantages of this are that the signal is very clear, almost no loss of fidelity. And you don't get interference from others driving by. The disadvantage is that you have to install this guy (usually dropping it behind the panel somewhere) and get to the stereo antenna wire which means pulling your stereo unit out a little ways. Although the modulators are supposed to have a notch filter to simply insert onto the one frequency selected, it usually does not work. The modulator usually nails most of the FM stations. So they come with a power switch. You turn the switch on when you want to use the Sirius, and turn it off when you want to listen to FM. When the box is off it is a pure pass-thru, so your FM is unaffected.

I installed FM modulators in my first 2 Sirius installations in my cars. When we traided one of those in, I went with the FM transmitter approach on the new one. It sounded horrible, and I hated the interference. I eventually pulled open the dash and put a modulator in. When I traded my Subaru for the Prius, I installed the Sirius and routed a stereo cable from it's output under the carpet and up into the console and plug in directly to the AUX jack.

I have tried both ways. If you want easy, go with the transmitter and accept the poorer audio. If you are adept at opening up your panel (it's easy, see Chris Dragon's Stereo Install and comments in my previous post at: http://priuschat.com/index.php?act=Post&am...mp;qpid=302208) and doing the wiring, take the couple hours and put in a modulator. You'll appreciate the audio quality.

 

I installed a Wired FM Modulator Relay over the weekend. Alas, I failed to take pictures, but I plan on doing so tonight. Keep an eye on this thread.

BTW, the sounds quality is much improved. Much like mtsarpilot said.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(auart @ Oct 2 2006, 08:52 AM) [snapback]326795[/snapback]</div>

It wasn't easpecially hard to do. It took about an hour, maybe a little longer. I could probably do it in 30 minutes now.

I'm starting to feel really bad about not taking pictures. I will take some tonight and post them ASAP.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(auart @ Oct 2 2006, 08:52 AM) [snapback]326795[/snapback]</div>

I've installed 2 FM Modulators now, one in the Prius and one in our Ford Truck. The pictures I have from the Prius do not show the modulator, for the Ford there is one picture.

You will need to get to the back of the factory radio to install this. Some people have been able to do this with small hands and little dash disassembly. I pulled the radio out to do mine. If you follow the instructions for taking the dash apart for the factory Sirius/XM radio tuner you'll get to the back of the radio.

Once there, you unplug the antenna from the back of the radio and plug it into the FM Modulator. You then plug the FM modulator into the factory radio. There is also a wire that goes to your PNP tuner.

It's a rather small box, it receives power from the PNP tuner and sends an amplified signal directly into the factory radio. Almost as good as plugging into the AUX jack.

If you look at the link below, it shows the pictures from the Ford install. The second picture from the left in the first row of pictures has the FM Modulator / Injector highlighted.
Ford Sirius Install

Ken

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kpauley @ Oct 2 2006, 03:27 PM) [snapback]327025[/snapback]</div>

I took the dash apart when I did mine. My hands weren't quite small enough. I could get them in the right place, but I didn't have any room to move them once they were there. The dash disassembly wasn't hard.

 

I have posted this in a couple other threads, but I'll do it here too.

Here is the installation of my Starmate in the CD tray. I have updated my file from the beginning, so it is complete from running the Sirius antenna behind the factory antenna to drilling the hole in the CD tray and installing the FM relay.

Enjoy.