Ask the Car People.SM


Toyota Prius Audio & Entertainment System Questions

57 messages,  Last post on Jan 05, 2013 at 11:17 AM

You are in the Toyota Prius Maintenance & Repair Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Prius, Audio, Hybrid Cars, Hatchback, Sedan

Messages Page 2 of 7

#6 of 57 Re: XM Radio for 2006 Prius [marieh2006] by cheryl06prius

May 05, 2006 (4:05 pm)

Replying to: marieh2006 (May 04, 2006 10:00 pm)
The Roady 2 has pretty much been phased out of the market and its equivalent is the Delphi XT which sells for about $60.00 at places like Walmart. I would strongly recommend having either of the two profesionally installed at an audio shop because some drilling is required, it will probably cost about $150.00 and you might get a better deal purchasing the radio from the installer.
 
Both Roady 2 and XT are pocket size units which can be mounted on the dash or on the center console. On my Prius the antenna is mounted on the front passenger windshield, on a previous car it was on the rear window.
 
I can't speak for the XT but i'm not satisfied with my Roady due to having difficulty finding an open channel. The Roady/XTs have to be tuned to one of 7 or 8 FM frequencies such as 88.1, depending on your location there may be another non XM station with a strong signal that interferes with the XM. I find myself changing frequencies often which is difficult to do while driving. The interference tends to be heavier when near a larger city with a greater concentration of FM stations.
 
When I find the right frequency the Roady gives acceptable reception. It may well be the XT gives better reception. I'm waiting for the Toyota integrated unit to become available and take the chance that a Toyota dealer will install it correctly. Being the XM radio addict I am i'll just have to put up with the Roady until then.

#7 of 57 Re: XM Radio for 2006 Prius [cheryl06prius] by marieh2006

May 05, 2006 (7:49 pm)

Replying to: cheryl06prius (May 05, 2006 4:05 pm)
Cheryl, thanks for the info!
I am NOT drilling on my brand new car! My salesman told me today (when I picked it up) that the integrated units are supposed to be available at the first part of June, so I think I can manage for that long with the cd player. I'd rather have the Toyota dealer put it in, then they're responsible if there's a problem

#8 of 57 Re: 06 prius ipod question [dochollywood1] by bowden

Mar 28, 2006 (11:35 am)

Has anyone ever found out how to use an IPod in the 2006 Prius equipped with MP3 inputs? Thanks!

#9 of 57 ipod and '06 aux jack by dochollywood1

Feb 03, 2006 (4:27 pm)

i just bought an 06 prius which comes with an aux jack in the center glovebox. attached my ipod to the audio system via this jack thinking it would play what i pick on the ipod. instead, the car uses the ipod more like a disc and only plays the mp3 and wav files while skipping through all of the songs bought through itunes. any suggestions? don't like the fm transmitters and would rather not install a whole bunch of new equipement...

#10 of 57 Re: ipod and '06 aux jack [dochollywood1] by tyguy2

Feb 17, 2006 (9:32 pm)

Replying to: dochollywood1 (Feb 03, 2006 4:27 pm)
My i-pod mini works normally with the Aux-in jack; it plays both the AAC (itunes) and MP3 music. I don't think the aux-in jack has any intelligence - it's just a input source. Does your ipod play correctly through headphones?
 
A couple of minor quirks - 1) the car sometimes switches to "cd" from "Aux" after it's been shut off. 2) if I charge the Ipod from the power adapter while connected to the Aux port, I hear a faint hiss under the music. Otherwise no complaints.

#11 of 57 Re: ipod and '06 aux jack [tyguy2] by rukind

Feb 25, 2006 (9:46 pm)

Replying to: tyguy2 (Feb 17, 2006 9:32 pm)
I'm interested in your experience with the cross noise. Have you tried this in another vehicle? Is it your car or all models? Have you tried someone else's iPod to see if it is isolated to your unit?

#12 of 57 XM Radio by cheryl06prius

Jul 25, 2006 (12:44 am)

I just had the integrated XM radio installed on my '06 Prius by a Toyota dealer.
 
In urban driving so far reception has been excellent but recently took a 300 mile trip that was mostly rural and hilly. Approximately 25% of the trip resulted in "No signal". I covered the same route with the same car when my "Roady" was installed and less than 5% was "No signal".
 
With the "Roady" the rubber antenna was mounted on the roof,with the integrated unit it is mounted on the far lower right(passenger side) of the windshield.
 
While more testing will be required to form a conclusion i'm hoping that the current antenna position will not result in consistent signal loss.
 
I'm interested in hearing from anyone with the integrated XM radio on their Prius as to reception issues.
 
From the ergononmic standpoint the unit is excellent.

#13 of 57 Re: XM Radio [cheryl06prius] by pathstar1

Jul 25, 2006 (8:37 am)

Replying to: cheryl06prius (Jul 25, 2006 12:44 am)
Having the antenna on the roof is the difference. It may help to move the antenna up high on the windshield, or even put it up high on the rear window. Best is still on the roof. I think they are just trying to keep aerodynamic effects at zero. An XM antenna on the roof would have so little aero effect you wouldn't be able to measure it. I suppose owners would be upset if the installer drilled a hole in the roof though. I always put my antennas on the roof. They work so much better there. There are very reliable through roof antenna mounts that don't leak. I think the XM antenna would look good front centre just back of the windshield.

#14 of 57 Re: XM Radio [pathstar1] by gagrice

Jul 25, 2006 (8:59 am)

Replying to: pathstar1 (Jul 25, 2006 8:37 am)
I always put my antennas on the roof. They work so much better there.
 
My GMC PU has XM factory installed. It has a small antenna on the roof. The only time I lose signal is in my metal shop building. It does not cut out when going through an underpass. I have not had it in a tunnel which I assume will lose the signal. Part of the system has a memory circuit that stores the signal coming in to avoid losses.

#15 of 57 Re: XM Radio [gagrice] by cheryl06prius

Jul 25, 2006 (10:37 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Jul 25, 2006 8:59 am)
Thanks to both for your responses.
 
My friend has a HCH with integrated XM and the antenna is mounted on the upper right corner of the windshield(passenger side). He has no reception problems in hilly terrain.
 
Also I noticed on my Prius there is a 2.25inch square metallic plate on the interior windshield surface covering the rubber or plastic portion of the antenna. I never saw one before but I can't help but think that it doesn't impede reception.
 
After some further road testing i'll probably end up back at the dealer requesting some type of antenna modification.

Messages Page 2 of 7

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement