Toyota Prius XM Radio: When Available

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Prianista @ May 29 2006, 12:40 AM) [snapback]262278[/snapback]</div>

Is that the same XM kit as http://www.coastaletech.com/xm_radio_in_prius.htm or are there 2 now?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mabrown @ May 31 2006, 11:17 AM) [snapback]263494[/snapback]</div>

I have the Prius-specific XM radio sold by Toyota as an accessory to be installed at the dealership. It was promised for April, but wasn't available to dealers until May 22.
Based on previous discussions, I believe that the Coastal Tech version is an XM radio intended for another Toyota model (Solara?) but that can be adapted for the Prius.
The only signigficant difference I know of is that the Prius-specific radio displays 16 characters per line while the other radio displays only 10 characters per line.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(arnie619 @ May 31 2006, 10:38 AM) [snapback]263400[/snapback]</div>

I just got the XM kit installed with the antenna on the right front of the dash. Signal level seems low as it fades in and out more than my other receiver when I put the antenna on the back deck of a Buick. I'm wondering if the High Solar Energy Absorbing glass in the Prius attenuates the signal. There are some windshields that block quite a bit of RF energy and make, for example, GPS receivers vertually unuseable. Comments appreciated. I would think Toyta could have prewired for the XM antenna kit for a better functioning install. Anyone have Sirius installed and can make comparisons?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Fosco @ Nov 1 2007, 05:06 AM) [snapback]533296[/snapback]</div>

I've always had XM in my Prius, but was too cheap to get the built-in one. Currently I have an XpressRC receiver... color split screen and records an hour of music. I tried putting the antenna on the dash with unsatisfactory results, so ran the wire out the top of the hatchback and put it right behind the AM/FM ant, works fantastic. BTW, in large urban areas, XM has high-wattage terrestrial repeaters so you can receive the signal almost anywere the antenna is. If you go into the setup it should give you signal strength of both satellite and terrestrial signals. You can use the signal strength graph to finalize the antenna placement.

 

The dealer is installing the XM option in my 2-day old 2008 Prius even as we speak, and I'll report back once I get it activated and such. On my previous car I had a Roady with the antenna on the dash and while there were places it would cut out it was still acceptable performance overall.

Z.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Zoot @ Nov 2 2007, 09:24 AM) [snapback]533958[/snapback]</div>

Works great so far. The usual only slightly painful process of switching a radio code through XM (did it on the phone with them since AFAIK you can't just switch an ID online). Then 20 minutes (and a manual refresh) and the car is fully activated.

The antenna is on the right front dashtop inside. On the way back to work from the dealer, no dropouts or anything while listening to the preview channel.

There's a spot on my route home where it would always drop out (going east with heavy tree coverage), and I'll see tonight if that's still an issue with this one (the antenna placement is similar though the cars quite different).

Z.

 

I just had the Toyota XM radio installed by the dealer, with the antenna placement on the dashboard. I didn't even know that dashboard installs were possible, and thought I might be in trouble as soon as I saw it, as any other XM radio install I've seen has been on a roof/trunk and instructions have always said have 4" of metal around the antenna.

But, not having seen it before, I took it for a drive, and it sucks - especially when driving east. Anytime I go under a bridge it cuts out, as well as anytime I pass a truck. Never had this happen on the other three cars I've had radios on (where the antennas were all on the roof).

Apparently they're going to call around and see if they can get an antenna that will go on the roof. But for the other readers here, if you're getting a satellite radio install, make sure you specify that you want the antenna on the roof!

- Chris

 

I was wondering if anyone could help clarify for me what options are available for XM on a 2008 Prius Touring Package #6.

We purchased the car earlier this week and asked for XM to be installed on the vehicle. My wife called the dealer today to set up an appointment and we were told that we had to have an XM receiver installed on the dash and would need to run it through an FM modulator.

Now my wife is really ticked off since she has gotten used to the XM radio integrated into the headunit on our Saab. Our understanding was that the JBL stereo was Sat-ready and that we could control it via the headunit in the Prius also. My wife called Toyota directly to confirm and was told that it was true that we would need an external unit to receive XM via an FM modulator. This doesn't seem right to me and we really don't want to add a module to the dashboard for asthetic reasons. The dealer told my wife that the only way to get the XM integrated into the headunit was if we ordered our Prius directly from Toyota, otherwise you have to go the FM modulator route.

Are we getting the runaround or is this really the only option?

Thanks!

 

Sorry, but you are getting the runaround.

My dealer installed the Prius-specific Toyota XM radio on my dearly-departed 2006 Prius. The 2008 Prius e-brouchure from toyota.com lists XM radio as an accessory that has an installed MSRP of 449.00. (the same price I paid for the unit and installation in 2006) I suggest printing out that page and taking it to Toyota dealers until you find one that will do the install.

If you'll share your location, it's likely that someone on this forum will be able to suggest a dealership you might try.

(BTW, the instructions that come with the Toyota XM unit tell the installer to place the antenna on the right side of the dash. That didn't bother me much, but others on this forum report they have prevailed upon the dealer to install the antenna on the roof. There may be an additional charge for that.)

 

You are definately getting the run around. I have an 08 with package 6. I ordered the Toyota XM kit from Coastal Tech for $299. I installed it my self in a short amount of time and it works flawlessly. BTW Coastal Tech shipped the order immediately. I have read other postings from folks complaining about them but I have ordered twice from Coastal and am very happy with their service.

 

We ordered our Prius satellite ready. Does that mean all i need to do is pay for the subscribtion? Seems like since i paid for this. IT should be this simple. ? Alan

 

Unfortunately, "satellite-ready" simply means the car's audio system comes with built-in connections to integrate the Toyota XM receiver that you must pay extra to buy and have installed.

Here's what the screen will look like:

 

I have the same 10 character problem in my 2004 Prius. Sometimes the artist and song titles are quite entertaining, so I started a blog:

http://10characters.blogspot.com