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Lots of questions XM Radio install

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by clairdesol, Jan 24, 2007.

  1. clairdesol

    clairdesol New Member

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    New Prius owner, 2007 with package #2. Love my new car! I have read everything I can find in these posts about adding XM satellite radio to my car. I have also talked to the dealer, and looked at the sites for Factory Interactive, Coastal Tech, XMfanstore, and VAIS. A lot of this info is over my head technically, and I definitely do not have the inclination to try to install myself. This is what I have come up with so far:
    1. My car, with Package #2, is not "satellite ready". Toyota tells me therefore they cannot install a satellite radio. Factory Interactive tells me that their package works on ANY 2007 Prius. Who do I believe?
    2. If I do get a package, I will not be installing it myself. I need to be able to buy something and turn it over to an installer. I have had 2 estimates of $85 - $125 for installation.
    3. I want the 16 character screen, and I want to put the antenna on the roof.
    4. Terk has a package for "satellite radio ready" cars for $99, does not list Prius as a compatible vehicle, and from what I have read here, provides only 10 character display.
    5. VAIS does not list 2007 Prius as being compatible and their website is technically challenging.
    6. Other prices are $295 from Factory Interactive; $299 from Coastal Tech; $299 from VAIS.
    7. Factory Interactive says they are back-ordered for at least several weeks.
    8. I already have XM subscription family plan, so free subscription and activation are not really issues.

    Where I really need help right now:
    1. Are there other owners with package 1 or 2, who have been able to install XM, even though Toyota says it is not "satellite ready"? What is it that makes the difference?
    2. Has anyone been able to get a $99 Terk package to provide a 16 character display?
    3. Does the $99 Terk package actually provide everything that the $295-299 packages provide?
    I'm leaning to ordering from Factory Interactive because they were very helpful on the phone; I have read good things about them here; they say their package will work on my car; they provide 16 character display.

    Thanks!
     
    #1 clairdesol, Jan 24, 2007
  2. jlchellman

    jlchellman Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2006
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    Location:
    Potomac Falls, VA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(clairdesol @ Jan 24 2007, 05:44 PM) [snapback]380321[/snapback]</div>
    I used Factory Interactive in August 2006 about 1 week after I purchased my 2006 Package #7. Jon from Factory Interactive did the sale and installation and I can't say enough about his excellent service and detail during the install. The dealer kindly offered to install the same system for $750.00. Jon did it for $299.00. I didn't get the 16 character display, mine is 10 I think. and the antenna is on the roof at the right rear above the hatch door. I couldn't be happier and highly recommend Factory Interactive and always ask for Jon!
     
    #2 jlchellman, Jan 24, 2007
  3. BethlehemPrius

    BethlehemPrius New Member

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    Hey there

    I don't know about the part of the Radio you have in your car in regards to the option package you have. I thought you could put it on any of the radios in the Prius.(?)

    I had xm installed at the dealership and the text that comes on my screen is not cut off at all, so not sure what the character limit is on it. I did have some issues with the installation from the dealership, they stuck it on the front window and wasn't happy with the installation so tried just setting it on the dash, still so-so.

    So they ended up giving me a new antenna to put on the roof in the rear, this solved many of the static issues I was having and now only lose reception when driving next to a big building or a steep bank along the road.

    I am however uninstalling the radio and putting Sirius in instead as soon as the Factory interactive folks ship it. So my xm unit will be up for grabs if your interested in purchasing. Installing it is really quite simple and I have all the directions from Toyota of how to access and route things. (have installed 3 myself in other cars prior).

    If your interested hit me up and we can take it from there.
     
    #3 BethlehemPrius, Jan 24, 2007
  4. finkj

    finkj New Member

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    This is easy...two words...

    Factory Interactive. I did the install myself on my '07 option 2 prius. It works great and the 10 character display doesn't really bother me. I have sirius but xm is the same deal.

    IT WILL WORK!

    Despite what toyota says. The head unit has an empty slot for the connector on the end of the Factory Interactive cable.

    The DVD makes it so that ANYONE can do it.

    $299 is a bargain.

    Feel free to PM me if you want.

    Jon

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(clairdesol @ Jan 24 2007, 05:44 PM) [snapback]380321[/snapback]</div>
     
    #4 finkj, Jan 24, 2007
  5. JimboK

    JimboK One owner, low mileage

    Joined:
    May 1, 2006
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    Location:
    Chesterfield, VA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    I have a 2005 package #2, though I doubt it's identical to yours; they change the packages from year to year. But the radio was not described as being satellite ready, so maybe our radios are identical (or close enough).

    I got the Vais SLX and am quite pleased. I've been an XM subscriber for years, and I couldn't see myself trying to tolerate a 10-character limit on song and artist names after I've become accustomed to more. BobR first alerted me to the SLX, and here's a thread describing his experience, along with a post from me describing mine:

    http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=17555&hl=

    A small side benefit to the SLX is an auxillary audio input, useful for, say, an iPod. I'm not an iPod user at the moment, but just in case, I've connected a cable to the input and routed it to the glove box for easy access.

    I agree that their web site could be a little more intuitive, but I suggest you give them a call to check compatability with your car. I've had to call them twice and they have been very responsive. And as Bob reports, his customer service experience with them has been excellent as well.

    They were offering a group buy last month for $219 (which is what moved me to replace my Roady XT with an integrated unit). You might check to see if that's still going.

    You still need to buy the XM Direct Tuner (which has the antenna) to go with the SLX. Circuit City and Best Buy have it for about $50, or you probably can find it on the Web for less.
     
    #5 JimboK, Jan 24, 2007
  6. svbb

    svbb New Member

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    Get the TERK for $99!!

    Yes, it will work. I have an 07 package B, No JBL. You know what "Sat ready" means on an 07? That it has an "AM-SAT" button on the head unit. Mine just says "AM." AM toggles between AM, SAT1, SAT2, and SAT3.

    You do NOT get 16 character display, though. Not a big deal for me.

    Really, it's a great solution, and tough to beat $99.
     
    #6 svbb, Jan 25, 2007
  7. clairdesol

    clairdesol New Member

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    Thank you to all the great posts about XM Prius installation. I have an 07 package 2, which is not supposed to be satellite radio ready. In fact, the dealer and the two auto stereo places I contacted said there was no XM radio available for my car. But I was encouraged by the experience of posters on this site, and find that the only difference between “ready†and “not ready†is the button, which is printed with either AM/SAT (package 3 and higher) or just AM (package 1 & 2). So I ordered up the $99 special from xmfanstore, which consists of the tuner (XMD1000), interface (XMDTL100), antenna and necessary cables. I then took these components down to a local auto stereo shop (Sun Valley Stereo in Phoenix) and persuaded them to install it for me. I gave them explicit instructions that I wanted the tuner and interface installed behind the instrument panel under the radio, with the antenna wire running up through the dome light to the existing antenna and the XM antenna placed directly behind the existing AM/FM antenna, with a little notch to bring the wires through. (It didn't leak when it rained just after installation.) These were all techniques that I had read about here on this site, and the guys at Sun Valley did a great job, all for $100. They said they are going to contact Terk to let them know that this really does work on the Prius. Reception is great. It looks great. See a picture:[attachmentid=6551]
    And all the controls work, including the screens, the AM button (which now doubles for SAT 1,2 & 3), and the steering wheel controls. The only negative is the 10 digit display, which turned out not to be a big deal for me (How much reading can you do while you’re driving anyway? Hopefully there’s enough space for baseball scores!) Thank you everyone for all the great info, in particular the Metro Toyota guide with great instructions for disassembling the instrument panel https://www.metrotpn.com/documents/PDF%20Fi...sXMradio3.2.pdf , for Chris Dragon’s other set of instructions for the instrument panel http://www.chrisdragon.com/downloads/Stere...us,%20v1.03.pdf, for Momanz’s pictures
    http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=26224&hl=
    which helped persuade my stereo guys. And for the Sirius Starmate instructions which showed how to access the antenna opening through the dome light
    http://home.comcast.net/~moverstr/Sirius_S...nstallation.pdf
    I did order up a shark fin antenna directly from Visual Garage, and they did a great job on the paint, it only took 2 weeks to get here, but haven’t yet tried it out. My idea was to place it over the XM antenna and the base of the AM/FM antenna.
    Happy listening!
     

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    #7 clairdesol, Feb 12, 2007
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