Poor Sirius reception

If you continue to have problems, escalate the issue to the General Manager.

 

I installed the Solara unit in my Prius and am very happy with it. I am using the small Terk antenna, not the large unit that came with the installation kit. I'll be mounting the antennain the spoiler onw of these days, then it will be invisible (and therefore less of a theft risk).

Sound quality is good, but not as good as I'd like. Talk stations have a lot of compression and can have an odd "swirly" acoustics. Music stations are fine, though.

I get some dropouts and would like that improved. Coiling the coax line is probably a bad idea but until I do the final spoiler install that is how I keep the extra cable length in order.

Ten character limit is annoying, but not a deal killer. I like that I can use the MFD and steering wheel controls, and that it is not a theft target.

When first installed, I got about half a dozen stations: a few music, Stern talk, and the subscription/weather channels. Registration over the phone took a few minutes and it was all up and running.

I do not get static at all, other than "staticy" overmodulation noises on the local weather/traffic station.

 

You shouldn't have to go to very much trouble to find out whether it is the tuner vs. an antenna related problem. The install shop should have access do a different antenna. They don't even need to try to do a full install on it, just plug it in and pop it on the roof of the car and see if the problem persists, although if it takes 15 minutes for your unit to act up I guess you would be out the cash for the time spent waiting. Also, I'd ask the company that supplied the radio if they are going to pay the money you have to spend, if it turns out the tuner IS at fault. It is an expense you incurred because they sent you a defective unit.

I really think the fact that you were getting the stations shows that you got a used unit, not a new one, and that alone should be worth a replacement tuner unless they can show that when it came back they tested it out and everything worked fine before they reboxed it.

I feel bad for all the trouble your having. I CAN say that once you have it up and running I think you will find that even with all this trouble, sattelite radio was worth the agony in the long haul.

Keep us posted on how it turns out.

 

Is your's a 2006? I've gone through two units as well with the same situation. Where did your installer end up placing the tuner and how did they run the harness?

Both of my tuners had programming available before activation, but it was limited programming. The second unit had a scratch on it and a sticker that looked like a refurb unit.

 

I posted this on the post that I started about Prius Sirius.

I have talked to a couple of my customers that are professional stereo installers. I heard from a couple of them that there is a problem with the 2006 models software and the unit does not work. I am still hoping for the best and that there is or will be a software upgrade. It sounds so bad, I can not hardly listen to 104 Raw Dog comedy

 

So it appears that the Solara Sirius isn't compatible with the 2006 Prius. Metro lists it as compatible; I would think there wouldn't be a problem returning it.
The Vais Tech and ice > Link also have problems with the 2006 Prius.

 

Maybe the aux input on the HU in a 2006 is more sensitive, so the audion coming out of the Solaris unit needs to be attenuated a bit?

 

I had the same thought. A pinout diagram of the cable would be nice so i can put in some resistors.

 

Maybe you could purchase a choke and wrap it around the wires to relieve some of the EMI..? Chokes are cheap and don't require cutting.

 

2006 AUXILARY INPUT WIRING:
GREEN = RIGHT AUDIO
RED = LEFT AUDIO
SHIELD = COMMON AUDIO GROUND
WHITE = AUX1 ON HEAD UNIT (Gets switched to ground I believe when a plug is inserted into the jack)

 

preludedude,

I'm having a similar problem with the Sirius receiver installed in my 2006 Prius. However, my noise does not come or go after 15 minutes. I have tried two Sirius receivers and two antennas and two behind-the-dash Toyota cable assemblies with no improvement. I get the noise at certain frequencies and sound levels so it is not noticeable all the time. When I do hear it, it sounds like small rocks popping around in my speakers. I’ve noticed that I get the same noise through the AUX input between the front seats. If I play a CD in the dash CD player; no noise. If I play the same CD in an external CD player with the audio plugged into the AUX input; same noise that I get on Sirius. If I unplug the satellite receiver, I still get the same noise on the AUX input so the Sirius receiver is not the problem. I’ve heard that some 2006’s have this problem and some don’t. If anyone has any more info or a solution, please let me know.

Thanks,
Kurt

 

I would take it to the dealer with the sirius not plugged in and have them diagnose the AUX input problem. If they fix it (under warranty) plug the sirius back in and hope that it works... I have been through what you have been through with factory interactive with no fix... my AUX input appears to be functioning correctly.

 

I have a 2006 Package 4 and had the dealership order & install the ""Sirius Prius" unit
from Factory Interactive......or at least that's what I was told they were going to do.
When I looked at the invoice from the service department the part numbers they listed
as "installed" looked suspiciously like those from the MetroTPN website....not the Factory
Interactive part numbers....

Anyhow, I've got the same static issue. I notice it particularly well on talk stations or during
any dialogue, but have also noticed it on some music stations.
The dealership has my car now and is trying installing a new antenna. The first antenna was a wierd
looking triangular wedge-shaped one that mounted on the inside of the rear hatch glass.
Thru-the-glass antennae are notoriously bad for reception, particularly if you have metallic window tint.

Dealership is trying out an external antenna to see if that will fix the problem, but based on what I've read in this thread, I'm thinking it's either in the tuner or a defect in the Aux input portal of the factory head unit.
I've read where others have "cured" similar static problems with a replacement of the factory head unit.

I'll let you know how it turns out when I pick up the car tonight (fingers-crossed!)

 

The antenna won't fix the issue... I've replaced 2 already... I'm going with a bad head unit theory... hopefully when i get my next oil change I can get it fixed.

 

I have the portable unit that sticks on the window, I get the static/crackeling noise when another FM station is transmitting on the same channel close by.. other wise its clean & clear..

I wanted the portable so I could transfer it car to car , heck they got the sirus units that are as small as a radar detector...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BobR @ Feb 5 2006, 11:26 AM) [snapback]204092[/snapback]</div>

I have been shopping for a Sirius Unit for the Prius. I will be taking delivery of a 2006 Prius tomorrow so I have been following this thread. According to the SiriusPrius guys, there is a problem with the 2006 Prius and Noise Interference. THis problem does not exist with the 2004 and 2005 cars. They do not know when this will be fixed.

According to my dealer, the Toyota Prius XM install kit is now available and he has one on order. He does not know when or if there will be a Sirius unit from Toyota.

This is a problem since, even though I want Satelite Radio, I prefer the programming on Sirius to XM.

The Sirius Starmate Replay (and the Identical except for Black case Streamer GTR) have an optional "Professional" Installation kit that allows them be installed in a Single DIN slot. The Prius has a Single DIN slot beneath the CD player behind the smoke translucent door. It seems to me that this is a reasonable installtion solution for Sirius in our Prius. THe kit includes the DIN face plate the Starmate mounts in, power cables ,audio cables, and a wired FM Modulator.

Does anyone know if you can directly wire audio line in to the AUX pins in the back of the Prius Radio in the 2006 cars that have the wired Aux in in the arm rest?

I suppose one could run a cable from behind the dash under the carpet to the Aux In Jack in the arm rest.

Has anyone done this?

THis could be a good solution (and lower cost) until the Factory Sirius kit is ready...

Unti

 

Since the AUX input is being used, and since all AUX inputs that I know of are for analogue signals, I believe the signal to that must be analogue rather than digital, hence the "analogue" nature of the noise complaints. And with analogue, it can never sound as good as the CD player. Pretty depressing to be hamstrung by poor design.
Sounds pretty primitive to me.