xm radio operation snafu

The controls on the steering wheel operate the XM radio just like they do in the AM or FM modes - by cycling through the presets on each screen. You have 6 presets on each SAT screen, with three SAT screens, for a total of 18 possible total presets. To tune to a channel other than the ones you have preset, you have to turn the "tune" knob on the radio, just like you do when changing to an un-preset channel in AM or FM mode.

 

On my XM radio, I can select using the steering wheel up/down control within the presets I have. However, if I manually tune in a non-preset station and THEN use the up/down control, I think it tunes up and down to other stations in that same "genre."

I will double check this in a little while.
RJG

 

I apologize. I just went out to confirm what I had written and discovered it is exactly as efusco describes.

But, it looks as if you manually tune in a non-preset, then use the seek button on the radio dash controls, THAT will cycle through the genre of music that you happened to manually tune to.

For example if you manually tune into a "rock" station, using the up/down seek button - on the dash- will cycle through all of the "rock" stations.

 

if you press the steering wheel up/down things and you're on a preset channel already, it will go to the next preset.

If you press the steering wheel up/down thing while NOT in a preset channel, then it will go to the first or last preset depending on which arrow you pressed

 

So you can purchase a Solaris Xm Radio kit from the dealer, and it will work with the Prius? Has everying you need? wire harness, tuner, everying? If thats the case, I wonder why they don't sell it as a addon at the dealer for the prius?

 

Wow, thats good to know. I wonder If I can get the dealer to install it? Maybe they will just tell me that it won't work. I wonder if its easier than the coastaletech version of the kit? to install that is.

 

The initial poster's problem is one that had me baffled for a bit, too. When the radio boots up for the first time *all* the SAT presets are CH 001, the preview or free channel. So pushing the little up/down arrow buttons on the steering wheel just cycled through the same channel. I first thought the initialization of the radio by XM corp didn't take. Then I discovered the Tune knob incremented the channels, and started playing with the "seek" and "scan" buttons on the touch screen.

The touch screen controls on the MFD will work as described in the owner's manual for the FM radio/RDS. There is "seek" and "scan" type, and within a type (grouping of channels), "seek" and "scan" through the grouped channels.

My strategy was to go through the channels one at a time with the Tune knob, setting presets as I went. Now I use the touch screen and steering wheel buttons to choose which group of SAT presets I want, and which channel from the group.

BTW, the "Solara" kit is the same thing as the CoastalEtech, the PriusXM, "Eddie's" kit, or the dealer install. Just some minor differences in instructions provided and things to install the receiver/antenna.

I went with the Coastal Etech kit when they were including a year's free XM subscription in the price.

Easy install, no surprises. I'm now playing with the mini-micro antenna in the spoiler, though here in the tall trees and deep valleys of Montana, where there are no terrestrial FM repeaters, it's beginning to sound like I will have to use the roof mount location to minimize dropped signals.

On the whole, I'm pretty pleased with it and it sure beats the only two stations we normally get up here -- your basic Country and your basic Western!

Steve Z
near Libby, MT USA

 

I wonder what the dealers kit costs? I still don't understand why the dealers are adding xm to the prius as a option. I went to the parts dept. two weeks ago, and they said they have nothing,as the prius is not satelite radio ready. It's so wierd, especially knowing the solaris will work.

 

I believe the Prius is even DVD ready, just that we don't have the ECUs available.

You can seek FM stations from the steering wheel buttons by holding the <|> buttons down. Not sure if that would work with XM, as I don't have XM.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DanMan32\";p=\"100124)</div>

Right, just like if you have the JBL system, holding the steering wheel buttons will change the CD, rather than going to another song on the same CD.

 

Anybody know how to get the JBL (or not) system to seek through the currently playing CD track such as FF or REW?

Right now, holding down the button on the steering wheel changes CDs, tapping it changes tracks, and holding the seek button down on the console doesn't seem to do anything except change tracks.

 

You have to do it from the Audio screen on the MFD.