Prime Communications Links

The Prius Prime receives GPS positioning and SiriusXM audio entertainment signals from satellites, but it does not transmit to satellites. As Toyota’s New Car Features book (available by subscription to techinfo.toyota.com) explains, communication with Toyota’s Safety Connect service is through the Data Communication Module (DCM), also called the telematics transceiver—a cellular modem.

Page 553 of the Owner’s Manual (PDF) discloses the FCC ID for the DCM, JOYJ79, which the FCC OET Equipment Authorization database reveals is a Kyocera communication module. (The Canadian registration says it’s a Kyocera AL-S5300NA-V1.) According to documents in the OET database, the module can operate in these bands:

	Band	System	Transmit	Receive
1	B2	LTE or UMTS/HSPA+	1850–1910 MHz	1930–1990 MHz
2	B4	LTE	1710–1755 MHz	2110–2155 MHz
3	B5	LTE or UMTS/HSPA+	824–849 MHz	869–894 MHz
4	B13	LTE	777–787 MHz	746–756 MHz

I don’t know which bands are actually used, nor the wireless carrier or carriers under contract with Toyota to provide the service, both of which might change during the life of the vehicle. I’ve read in several places that it’s Verizon Wireless, but I couldn’t find an authoritative source for this information. With the right test equipment, it would be trivial to find out, but I think that may be more the realm of Old Crows than @Old Bear.

A signal booster, if it works in the right band, might improve connectivity, but be sure to read the FCC’s information and Signal Boosters FAQ before buying or installing one. You must register a signal booster with a wireless carrier before operating it; for example, see the Verizon Wireless page about this. It’s not clear to me whether the product you linked complies with the current FCC rules, and the FCC can (and occasionally does) impose forfeitures against users of unlawful equipment when carriers report harmful interference.

 

What you want is something called a femto-cell. I assume that you have some type of internet service that's not cellular based in your house. If so you want a small home based cell tower that connects to the internet using your home boardband service.

Now the big question is what carrier Toyota uses for it's telematics backhaul, and if will allow a roaming connection. If it doesn't allow roaming, then you'll have to be very specific about which carriers femto-cell you purchase.

In any case, this should fix your problem (and also give you full 5-bars in your house as well).

 

According to the document I found, "We (Toyota) work with many different companies, individuals and government entities to provide you with your Services. Specifically, wework with Cross Country Motor Club, Inc., to provide roadside assistance, Verizon Wireless to provide Wi-Fi hotspot services and data connectivity to your vehicle, and Sirius XM Connected Vehicle Services Inc. (“Sirius XM CV”), to provide customer support and the other services that are a part of your System and Service Plan."

This is from the Telematics Subscription Service Agreement PDF, which I can't link to from my phone.

OP would need a Verizon femtocell, if such a thing is available.


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page 10 of 15 edit: on the actual page it says 5 of 10

https://www.toyota.com/privacyvts/images/doc/Toyota%20SSA.pdf

 

Thanks for posting the link @priuscatprimeguy!

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Don't let the reference to "Sirius XM" in the above text confuse you. This has nothing to do with Sirius XM satellite services like XM Radio. It is a completely unrelated service provided by the Sirius/XM company that you get connected to via the built-in Safety Connect cell phone (via Verizon) when you push the SOS button.

 

I was wondering what protocol they supported. Verizon is discontinuing CDMA in 2019, and I was hoping that the Safety Connect module used LTE, so the Safety Connect system wouldn't become a brick in 2019.

 

Haven't been able to find out. If it's the Kyocera chip using those LTE/UMTS-HSPA+ bands, everything should be fine. Those won't be going away.

BTW, it's キョセラ kyo(as in Kyoto) sera (for ceramics). "Key-oh Sarah" grates on my ears..

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