Satellite Radio Question

On a package 6 the radio is "satellite capable" - it is capable of controlling an optional satellite tuner module. It doesn't come with the XM or Sirius tuner by default but one can be added to the radio.

The dealer price is something like $500 but you can get a comparable unit for around $150 and install it yourself. Many people have.

I just have a plug-and-play Sirius receiver plugged into the aux port in the console but eventually I may get the TOY-SC1 and SCVDOC1 package to integrate it into the steering wheel controls. My wife complains every time I bump her elbow off of the center console to change channels on the Sirius, so there's some SAF (spousal acceptance factor) in that.

 

don't get the dealer unit. its old its crummy and it has a 10 character limit, and they are going to want 500-900 for it. take the car home, and get the $150 unit later on, they are even selling the scc1/sc1 or svdoc option at sears for the same 149 !

because of the xm/sirius merger, i am holding out, and decided to wait until the xm and sirius 'dual standard' radios come out

can someone post some xm/sirius merger info? are the channels now being duplicated across both satellites? are there any plans
to turn off xm or sirius streams? are they going to send us new radios if they decide to shut down a stream? is there a trade in plan?
are the antennas going to be interchangeable? last i heard the actual sirius and the actual xm antenna weren't interchangeable
i had to get my xm antenna replaced because it kept going out

 

While I am not sure of their future plans, Sirius and XM both now offer the "Best of" packages for an additional fee; these packages really only offer the talk / sports packages of the alternate service and not the music channels, which are mostly interchangeable any way.

 

I have Toyota installed unit. It does cost more but it is hardly an inferior unit. It sounds and looks great and was installed professionally. It is also very well integrated in my package 6 Prius touch screen.
The complaints I have seen in this site about aftermarket units is the placement of the antenna and its an add-on unit. If you get an aftermarket unit it would benefit you to have the antenna placed to the 'rear' of your regular antenna to eliminate interference. That means drilling holes and running wire. If you can't do it yourself get it professionally installed.
I purchased my car with the Toyota installed XM unit in May before FCC Sirius-XM merger was approved. I had concerns whether my xm receiver would be serviceable after the merge. I was assured by XM that it would always pick up the XM signal and that 'packages' with Sirius would be available. This has come to fruition. Since then I purchased a Panasonic XM home/portable receiver which I feel was a good buy (and a good monthly price from XM).
I am sure the units will eventually change in the future however your xm/Sirius receiver will always pick up programming from the satellite company. I would not delay getting either Sirius or XM. Both radio satellites offer similar music/political programming which will eventually be consolidated for either Sirius/XM purchasers and the other programming sports/talk will be available in packages which other members have already commented on. I think its a win-win situation at this point but I haven't looked at the package prices at this writing. I have heard the CEO on the XM radio on the Opie an Anthony show and he assured XM buyers that XM/Sirius satellite purchasers will continue to receive all of the programming they signed on for (with sports/talk packages available from the other company). This is already happening. XM users are getting Sirius programming and vice versa.
Hope this helps.

 

The dealer installed Toyota unit is considered inferior because it has a 10 character readout, where the aftermarket has 16 characters. The main difference in the Dealer installed unit and aftermarket integrated unit are the price and Mfr.
They are both fully integrated MFD controlled, and both require an antenna placement. No hole is ever drilled anywhere for an antenna wire. That is mis-information. Most of the complaints you have read were about Dealer placement of the antenna.

Where did your dealer put your satellite radio antenna?

 

An even wiser man said, if she's not happy, exchange her for one that is happy when you are.

 

stock antenna on the rear center roof of the car...thought it required a hole but obviously not a Prius expert. I can't imagine a dealership installing it elsewhere but I see from previous posts it must've happened. BTW, the dealer-installed unit does sound great. cost more...sounds great.

 

The preferred installation is to put the satellite antenna right behind the AM/FM whip, running the antenna cable under the trim pieces to the back hatch, then under the rear hatch gasket.

Some installers cheap out and put the antenna on the dash, but you may have reception problems.

One other disadvantage to the factory unit is that it doesn't seem to have a buffer that prevents dropouts when driving under an overpass. The SC-C1 does.

 

The stock whip antenna on rear roof of the car is not your satellite radio antenna. So I would guess your dealer installed the satellite radio antenna on the inside of the car somewhere, which is a totally inferior installation. "costs more" just means that, especially at a car dealer.

 

I am not sure what your point is other than you don't like dealer-installed units. I have a suspicion that not all dealers install the units and antennas in an inferior manner. I understand you are well-versed on Prius but assuming every dealer installation means 'inferior' is a stretch. The satellite radio works great and the antenna is professionally installed behind what is now a shark fin antenna.

 

no its not a change in 2009. you will need something installed to get satellite radio
maybe you can get it in writing, so you could score a free installation?

 

there is an aux adapter plug in in the center console that will work with an ipod if you have the upgraded sound system which is sat ready.