List of Hardware that Positively Works with the Prius

New to this -- what to date is easiest basic blue tooth phone to buy for Prius. Do not need anything fancy. Hope by now they have the kinks ironed out.

Thanks!

There are huge discussions on here regarding this question, too many to summarize and certainly to many opinions to give one golden answer.

Since the phone is the tit of the network, picking the right network is as important as picking the right instrument. Most Bluetooth phones will work, more or less, with the Prius' rudimentary implementation of an obsolete profile. Some ring through the speaker, some don't. Some can upload a phonebook, some can't. Most will pair with the car, but your car is not a BT headset.

Read the threads here on PriusChat, figure out the best provider for your location and useage, see what BT phones they offer, and search the models here to see what others have to say.

:?

Hello there,

I too have been very confused by the cell phone compatibility issue. I have read some of the info presented in Prius Chat but it is not that easy for me to find. Does any one know of an easy way to get a summary? Perhaps cell phone issues could have it's own forum or sticky area so that it will be easier to access all the information.

Being locked into a contract makes this a pretty important area to research before you buy. Thanks for any help.

not all hardware is cell phones and blue teeth...

http://www.plusaf.com/prius/prius.htm

on my site shows the successful implementation of a tow hitch (and conversion to let it tow a trailer).

and the nav override switch i installed myself. still a godsend when driving cross-country and looking for the next Big Mac just off the interstate.

and the Coastal auto-door-lock (love it, but wish it triggered every time at 15mph, not just once after startup.

and make sure you scroll down to "June 11: Drive to Savannah, GA, and overnight." on http://www.plusaf.com/coast/coast2.htm for a personal account of what happens when a Prius runs out of fuel at interstate highway speed... another reason to love the toyota hybrid implementation!

The latest version of the firmware for the PalmOne Treo 650 (1.12-SPCS in my case) works GREAT with the Prius -- Signal strength meter on the Prius display, very reliable pairing, etc. all work great. I had version 1.11-SPCS working but it sometimes froze the 650 during pairing and never showed the signal strength. I've been running 1.12 for a couple of weeks now with everything working great!

Peter+

I'm trying to figure out which ipod adapter to get. As far as I can tell the AUX-POD from PAC doesn't do the following:

- Display song or album titles on the Prius LCD
- Allow me to choose any album, any song, not just playlists.
- Work with the factory CD changer
- Work with satellite radio systems that display on the Prius LCD

And the new coastal ipod interface in development will likely do all those things:

http://www.coastaletech.com/ipod_interface.htm

The Prius Gods should really yank all the cell phone talk out and place in another sticky thread, kinda getting away from the title purpose of this one, the only thing getting talked about is cell phones now.

Viro

Yeah, very helpful. I'm still deciding whether I want a package 3 or package 6 Prius, and if I get a package 3 I'm definitely going to need to use an Aux input for my Sirus.

One question. If I get a package 3 Prius (w/ the single CD) is it possible to hook up both a CD changer AND an Aux input?

Actually, we should add the VAIS AIC-100i iPod adapter to the list of hardware that absolutely, positively works with the Prius. 60 PriusChat users can't be wrong. (Yes, I know -- we can be. But the VAIS unit has worked in a very large number of 2004-2005 Priuses.)

I'd point to several VAIS AIC-100i installation and testimonial threads (along with hybrideyes' excellent installation instructions), but they're all MIA at the moment while Danny works to get the lost threads back on-line.

I bought a new Prius in August 2005 - no navigation, no changer, no cassette deck, just a CD player. Any suggestions about what device to buy to use my 2nd gen iPod with the factory-installed stereo?

I'm not interested in an FM modulator, thanks.

p.s. I'm not a diy kinda guy when it comes to my car

Is there a Sirius equivalent?

http://www.factoryinteractive.com/SiriusPrius/ is one place.

Check out the SoundLinQ (SLI) formerly known as the AIC-100i

Dension's Ice>link for Toyota really works fine.

I bought ice>link today from Bestbuy which I saw just one there since last week. I paid $199 - 12% from bestbuy coupon w/bestbuy card. I called dension about 2 weeks ago and they said they can sell me directly for $189+Shipping.

Well, I installed it. I tooks total of 1 hour, however it could be done within 30 min if I do it again.
pretty simple, took out vent cover, unscrew white big cable plug, connect connector by just on hand, test, put everything back. mount cradle.. that's it.

Text display is really cool. Goodbye all static fm noise....

happy thanksgiving

Hojoon

Is the butt the part the bills come from?

Pics?

Glenmick:

With the SiriusPrius, the on-screen artist/title text is limited to 10 characters, according to those who've installed it. But you do get full functionality through the steering wheel controls and the MFD.

Personally, I've decided to spend that money on the new SIRIUS S50 PnP portable and eventually either hardwire the FM modulator or wait for the VAIS SIRIUS controller. (According to a VAIS e-mail I received, they are working on a SIRIUS controller which may be available in a few months. It'll give full functionality to SIRIUS PnPs.) BTW, the S50 is shipping to stores this week.

I just installed the Bazooka BT8100 subwoofer using the FAST-BTAH cable, FAST-1761 interface cable and an RBCM-EL remote volume control. Install was relatively easy considering I only drilled one hole and no splicing was necessary.

I installed the sub on the plastic cover of the battery pack. The screws provided would have penetrated the metal housing over the batteries, so I used my own shorter sheetmetal screws and screwed the include strap brackets through the plastic cover and in to two strips of scrap sheet metal I had in my shop.

I ran the FAST-BTAH cable from rear to front since the connector for the stereo is smaller than the one for the sub. I ran it under the black plastic vent for the battery, under the kick plate on the passeger side and behind the lip where the bottom of the glove box clips in. This is (almost) the same route I took when installing my XM radio.

The remove volume control was installed in the upper glove box. I had to drill a hole in the side for the connector to pass through. This cable followed the same route as the FAST-BTAH cable. At the sub end, I replaced the heat shrink tubing on the FAST-BTAH cable so I could include the volume control cable.

The FAST-BTAH cable has a ground connector close to the sub. I connected that to a screw on the metal housing for the HV battery. The screw in question is immediately above the right rear screw holding the battery pack to the deck. It seems to join to pieces of the housing, so I remove the screw, slipped the eye loop between the two pieces, and reinstalled the screw.

I also notched the right rear corner of the plastic cover over the HV battery for the FAST-BTAH cable. It runs up along the front right edge of the cargo tray. When I need trunk space, I disconnect the sub, put it in the cargo tray and also put the cable in the cargo tray.

I assume the same procedure would work for just about any of the tube subs that Bazooka makes.

The difference in sound quality is phenomenal. Without the sub, songs like Bring Me To Life by Evanesence and just about anything by Maroon 5 results in bad distortion when I set the bass setting up a notch or two. With the sub, I can leave the bass setting neutral resulting in no distortion when I turn the volume up.

Will this work with the Prius?

-->USA SPEC auxiliary interface

Any comments on how well this iPod interface is working? Can you access all your playlists and all songs from the touch screen display on the Prius or is there the same 99 playlist and 99 song limit that other interfaces have?