Hey guys,

I just had a quick question.. i tried the search but for whatever reason anything i type keeps comin up no results so here it goes:

I want to get xm radio in my car w/o having to go to toyota to finish it off and spend about $400... if i go to a best buy/circuit city can i just buy one of their xm kits and have the accessories hooked up that way or not?

 

yes...

 

you can get an fm modulator on most sirius and xm radio kits.. just mount the antenna, run the wire to the controller and turn it on, tune to like 88.1 or something on FM and bam! you're done.. i wouldn't waste my time with the people at circuit city or best buy.. not that experienced (i'll get people here who might support that they are good installers.. doesn't matter i won't take my car there) and probably end up damaging your car somehow.. save yourself the agony and just follow the simple directions with a plug n play xm or sirius tuner, you'd be fine..

 

I bought my XM kit from a Scion dealer for $250 (I had an inside connection) and installed it myself. I like the integrated look and control of the Scion system than some cheesy fm modulated system. Spend a few more dollars on the Scion system and put it in yourself. It only took me half a day. =-)

 

go to pioneer website and look at the xm reciever there. I belive the part number is x,-910 or something close it will run about 150 then you will have to buy the antenna which is part an-51 I belive it cost about 50.

 

the pioneer kit does NOT work with the stock radio. The stock radio might be a Pioneer but it's connections are not the standard pioneer connections

 

I am looking at going Sirius next year. (Sirius IMHO is better than XM by offering more choices and has the NFL games). Sirius is $3 more a month though.

Appears you can go the Scion way but it will cost you some bucks BUT will look more integrated than Best Buy/Circuit City. Scion will have the tuner/antenna.

Best Buy/Circuit City will offer the piece which comes out of your dash and the unit can be removed and inserted into your house units (which is nice). Also these units come with a remote control to help steer through the ton of stations (something that Scion does not come with).

Anyway you look at it (if you are not installing yourself), the cost is going be over $200.

Kevin

 

Go for Sirius.

The NFL, Premiership and of course listening to songs on the way into work without any annoying bleeps or buzzers.

Hell, after two weeks of having it, I bought stock into the company.. even before Stern's announcement.

I know the tC design is different.. but I get almost near perfect reception with my antenna sitting on the dash of my xB. Get a plug and play through Crutchfield.. they even have a rebate offer..

 

that will not work with stock system...and you don't have to buy that antenna...you can get a mini antenna for about 30 from Circuit City...



that antenna will work with any XM system you need the splitter though that splits it from one to two plugs... I believe my total for both pieces was around 40

~wC

 

I didn't realize the plugs on the back of our stock head units were diffrent. I have a pioneer single disc player out of my civic that I had bought the xm for it plugged in where the cd changer plug went too. Thanks for clearing that up.

 

yeah the aftermarket Pioneers have whats called an IP-Bus Port on it...ours is something different...

~wC

 

Thanks for that info, I didn't realize that.

 

So can I get an fm modulator and an antenna and have the xm radio work that way??

Im so confused... best buy is saying toyota needs to do it.... circuit city is saying use an fm modulator.... this is 2 VERY opposite opinions.... i want to know the real story behind the xm workin on the tC.

 

hey tc_sweetie..

you can get what's known as a universal "plug and play" unit.. and these exist for both XM radio and Sirius Satellite Radio.. it's your preference to get sirius or XM.. usually in the package it comes with the unit, a docking station (i'd put mine out of the eyes of theives in the armrest) a cigarette lighter power adapter, an antenna, and an Fm modulator that broadcasts the signal over to the radio.. some have a couple frequencies to choose from like 88.1, 88.3, 88.5 FM others have more.. you get the idea.. just tune your radio to that station, turn on the main sirius or XM unit and you have your satellite radio.. the great thing about leaving the main unit in the armrest is there is a power socket in there, plus theives can't see it.. and the antenna can be mounted outside by the regular antenna, the wire run inside the hatch, around the rear seat cushions.. and up to the arm rest.. very clean install..

Just shows that best buy really has no clue about your car when they are telling you the dealer has to do it and you cannot use a plug n play unit.. any car can! Best buy is only talking about the factory XM radio tuner module that hooks up to the main radio.. but plug n play units are universal.. Circuit city was right, but why let them install it? Don't let someone mess with your car who doesn't have a clue.. you can do this yourself.. it's VERY simple to do..

There is a way to plug an adapter directly into the back of the factory tC radio, but we're not going to really mention that to you since it would require taking apart the console and the radio.. and there is no way i'd recommend letting circuit city or best buy do that!! so the FM modulator is an easier and more simple to do.. that's why I recommended it to you..

 

but if your gonna spend the money...why buy something that is broadcast in digital then convert it over to FM sound quality...I would spend the money on a Pioneer head unit and then add an IP bus tuner all tops you'll spend 300 but it's worth it...

~wC

 

yeah thats what i was thinkin as far as gettin the fm modulator is the quality i'd be loosing out on... but where would i find an IP bus tuner at store or online wise?

 

maybe i was suggesting FM since it was an easy upgrade if tc_sweetie didn't want to spend the money for the scion XM tuner.. or for an aftermarket radio..not to mention having someone inexperienced take the dash apart.. ..like the people at best buy or circuit city.. but hey i know i wouldn't let them take my dash apart.. i'd just do it myself if i was going to do it..

and yes you can input a plug n play directly into the head unit with an adapter from PIE.. otherwise you need a new radio and satellite tuner.. I know that Alpine now has an XM satellite tuner built into one of their radios

 

Has anyone contacted Pioneer regarding the plug in the back? Just curious if the Sat cable is universal, i.e. plugs into the converter box for either XM or Sirius.
(Or is that the whole issue with the IP cable?)
Maybe it'll just be easier to get a new headunit with a Aux input for my plug-and-play..

 

Hey guys, I need some help. I'm wanting to buy this "Smart Digital Adapter for Alpine" but I don't know exactly on what to get and stuff. Like I do but don't major help. I need to know on how to install and what not. Greatly appreciated?

 

man i wish i had read this before i went and bought the in-dash xm pioneer system. i pulled my dash and the h/u out and bam, no ip-bus port. anyone know if they plan on coming out with a simple adapter that goes from ip-bus to the receiver that won't cost $150 at the toyota dealership?