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Factory Sirius Radio for Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by Metro, Apr 24, 2007.

  1. Rest

    Rest Active Member

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    I already installed a kit in one of our Prius. The DVD made the process very easy. I still can't get over how the same kit cost $400 from them yet metro can sell them for $250. Are we sure they are the same kits?
     
  2. GeoGeek

    GeoGeek Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rest @ May 2 2007, 09:16 PM) [snapback]434394[/snapback]</div>
    I believe the tuner & fit kit are essentialy the same. I do know that Factory interactive is shipping their
    kit with the jumper fix included on their fit kit (wiring harness). This fix adresses a static issue the tuner
    used to have. Don't know if the Metro kit does this, but I'm sure the Metro gut can tell you.
    A couple other things that the Facoory Interactive kit offers are a micro magnetic mount external antenna
    (which would cost about $40 at BestBuy..a vast improvement over the crappy internal wedge antenna that comes with the tuner standard) and the instructional DVD....which is nice if you're doing the install yourself.
    The extra $$$ is essentially for the jumper fix, external antenna & instructional DVD.
    Hope this helps.
     
  3. Rest

    Rest Active Member

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    I wouldn't call the Factory Interactive antenna a micro type. While it may be smaller than they were it isn't any smaller than other antenna's I have used in the past.

    Metro has sold these units in the past, so I thought what they are selling now is something new. Or do I have the incorrect info?

    Okay so FI includes a smaller antenna and the installation DVD....how does that justify being $150 more than the Metro kit? And don't get me wrong I like FI, I just don't like paying more than I have to.
     
  4. pre-cbs

    pre-cbs New Member

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    Any word on character limit?
     
  5. pleeus

    pleeus New Member

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    hello everyone. I recently purchased a package #5 2007 prius and have a question regarding sirius radio for the car. I see alot of threads about the sirius prius but is that for cars which do not have the satellite radio capability as an option? i have this option and not sure how to activate it... if you have any insights into this option or have experience with connecting sirius with this option, i'd GREATLY appreciate it.

    Thanks!
     
  6. Metro

    Metro Your OEM Q & A Resource

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pre-cbs @ May 5 2007, 12:54 PM) [snapback]436056[/snapback]</div>
    I have heard back from one of my customers that has installed one of the new Sirius kits and he informs me that the new kits are still limited to 10 characters. I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news. The same customer informs me that his wife's Acura is also limited to 10 characters, so I guess it is not just Toyota that has limitations.
     
  7. Rest

    Rest Active Member

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    A 10 character limit is totally unexceptable in this day and age. I can spend around a $100 and get a unit that does better. Why is it that factory units costing much more can't do this?
     
  8. pre-cbs

    pre-cbs New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rest @ May 8 2007, 02:11 AM) [snapback]437376[/snapback]</div>
    I agree, pretty weak
     
  9. Rest

    Rest Active Member

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    At the very least you would think a scrolling display would be used. I mean, what the heck are they thinking? You can't tell me a manufacture can't build a tuner for a vehicle that can do this! Who do we need to contact to get this done?
     
  10. skruse

    skruse Senior Member

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    I purchased and installed a Factory Interactive package in my 2005. I have since moved everything to my 2007. The DVD and installation procedure is essentially identical. Everything works great.

    I mounted the Sirius antenna directly behind the OEM antenna, and ran the wire under the weather stripping - to minimize air resistance and leaks.
     
  11. Vagabond

    Vagabond Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rest @ May 8 2007, 03:11 AM) [snapback]437376[/snapback]</div>

    Remember, the car has a limit on how many characters it can display when the car is moving. Perhaps they thought they would just keep it all uniform.
     
  12. Rest

    Rest Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Vagabond @ May 8 2007, 04:17 PM) [snapback]437854[/snapback]</div>
    I understand this already but the radio will scroll the display if the station identifies its call sign, songs and artists. So why can't the SAT info from the tuner do this also? My freaking $90 Sirius portable unit does this. Why is it so freaking hard? I spent almost $30,000 for a vehicle, another $400 for the Sirius SAT kit and I am stuck with something that a $90 unit can do but my system can't. TOYOTA this just won't keep me as a customer. Step up and fix it or I will go back to Honda.
     
  13. GeoGeek

    GeoGeek Member

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    What you're probably assuming is a Toyota satellite radio (because it's integrated with the factory stereo system) is actually a tuner made by Directed Electronics. Heck, even the "factory" head unit is a
    Matsushita piece of equipment.
    I do agree, however, that Toyota should get on the ball and find a supplier (or get Directed Electronics) to
    deliver a sat tuner with richer features. The problem right now is that there's just the one integrated solution,
    with the exception, perhaps, of the Vais SLS....but their solution doesn't appear to offer much more than the
    Directed Tuner (that you get from Factory Interactive or Toyota Dealers).
    Competition always seems to be the impetus behind getting the nifty features us techno geeks clamer for.
     
  14. Rest

    Rest Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GeoGeek @ May 8 2007, 07:56 PM) [snapback]438007[/snapback]</div>
    No I am not assuming Toyota made the SAT tuner. I know they didn't. But Toyota can request the specs for factory units. It is just very lame not to include the latest tech that much cheaper units have.
     
  15. rlmosher

    rlmosher New Member

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    I got the Radio and kit from Metro and it was a easy install. it worked great. Came fast and I dont look at the display when I drive so the car so the 10 characters are no problem. I just love that it is so clean. No tunners to deal with. I would recoment the unit from Metro.
     
  16. dfine1966

    dfine1966 Junior Member

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    There is a better solution for the Toyota's, especially the Prius, for a factory install.

    Go to

    TSS_Radio.com, which is an authorized Sirius Dealer. They actually are carrying the factor Sirius Radio install for Prius.

    Here is the the exact web page for it. You can read all about it here.

    http://www.tss-radio.com/toyota-sirius-int...age-p-4043.html

    Yes, everything works thru JBl or Navigation system on the Prius. The only thing, it will only work with Prius years 2005 thru 2007.


    Part number: TOYSIR

    Which looks like other audio installer can get the same part.

    Good Luck
     
  17. Rest

    Rest Active Member

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    It is $340, how is that a better deal than the Metro one at $250? And it still is only a 10 character limit.
     
  18. Vagabond

    Vagabond Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rest @ May 12 2007, 02:44 AM) [snapback]440458[/snapback]</div>
    He's just reselling the VIAS kit.

    Ironically enough, I have that very same Sirius tuner and it plugs directly into the head unit of the car. The VIAS kit only works in an 05+ but if you were to plug in the Sirius tuner, it would work in an 04 as well. That tuner has been on the market for many years now.
     
  19. shispeed

    shispeed New Member

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  20. Vagabond

    Vagabond Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(shipspeed @ May 14 2007, 01:58 AM) [snapback]441511[/snapback]</div>

    As I said before, the car will be under motion so you'll be limited to 10 characters at speed anyway. The ultimate lock-pick will allow any unit that supports more than 10 characters to display it's full amount, not just that one.