Does anyone now where else i can get the XM radio kit besides the dealer? The dealer wants around $480 for the kit and that is a little high. If you have any other tips or suggestions for adding xm please post. Thanks!

 

I have a unit at my shop that is FM controled and works great. It is called the XM commander. Cost is about $160, includes display unit, tuner box antenna, and remote control.

Display unit.


Actual tuner box, it is just over an inch tall and about 4" by 4". with a super small antenna.


This unit is nice because you can use it with a factory radio, and if and when you upgrade your radio, you can use it as an aux in. Also this has the xm tuner that Alpine, Pioner, Sony and Kenwood are going to use before the end of the year.

Jason

 

I'd give these guys a try:

http://xmradio.com/get_xm/

 

Would a pioneer XM receiver work with the factory unit. i dont want to use any of that radio broadcast crap.

 

click on the xm link above, there is a section for people adding it to their OEM unit...

 

Hey guys! Do you know what is up with the OEM headunit, why is it so expensive to get XM added onto a headunit that is satellite ready, is a XM antenna really that expensive?
Is there an aftermarket part that can just utilize the existing hardware so that there doesn't have to be another receiver to have to deal with?
Satellite sounds like a grea thng to have but the dealer option is outrageous... :?

 

Hey guys! Do you know what is up with the OEM headunit, why is it so expensive to get XM added onto a headunit that is satellite ready, is a XM antenna really that expensive?

Is there an aftermarket part that can just utilize the existing hardware so that there doesn't have to be another receiver to have to deal with?

Satellite radio sounds like a great thing to have but the dealer option is outrageous... :?

 

go to BEST BUY or CIRCUIT CITY or any other place that sells car audio. They can hook u up.

 

Remember that the factory unit is digital not analog. I have it on my Xb and it's worth every penny. I also have the portable unit that you can take from car to car and it's not even close to the sound quality as the Xb. Hope this helps.

 

It's called MARKUP. Did you price any of the other accessories at a dealership and then online? See the pattern?

Most people have no idea how the sat radio works so they are taking advantage of the ignorance. From looking at the XMradio.com site, it looks like you can get an add-on unit for around 150 connected to the factory headunit, not the FM broadcast

http://xmradio.com/catalog/product_d...554&type=Tuner

Antenna is extra but I can't imagine it making up the price difference...

 

Car Toys says there isn't an adapter yet.
They also say that the pioneer head unit that the radio plugs into is around $150, the antenna is $50, install $70, and when the adapter comes out it will probably be around $100 (estimating off what current oadapters cost).

Suddenly the Scion part doesn't sound quite so out of line. :?

 

sorry to jump in so late guys but i have sirius and i wanted to use the factory hu to listen to it so i did a search and found a company that allows you to hook up directly to factory hu and use the butttons and everything...not sure if you can scroll the songs but they have and adapter for xm and sirius... i'll get the name asap the price was like 100+ the antenna 40 to 50 more i didn't go with it cause the factory hu sucks anyway just my .02

 

ok here is the link
http://www.soundgate.com/products/cd/toyota.htm
hope this helps

 

I higly recommend the XM Roady....thats what I have and I love it

 

The problem with those units is that they are made to make your stereo think the XM radio is a CD changer. This is the same with the new iPod option for BMWs. The Scion headunits don't even have that capability... Also, I'd rather have a XM Commander or Roady (waiting on the Roady v2). The Scion's XM functionality kinda sucks. It truncates the song info, doesn't allow previewing of other stations, and a bunch of other cool stuff the Roady and Commander (as well as the SkyFi) have...

 

Isn't that all you need though?

The tuner box and antenna? If the headunit is satellite ready that's all you should need, I don't know why the option on the vehicle costs so much, those two items right there are about 180 bucks

http://www.xmradio.com/catalog/produ...554&type=Tuner

http://www.xmradio.com/catalog/produ...3&type=Antenna

 

the IP-BUS on the Scion headunits are propietary. They aren't the same as the aftermarket Pioneer ones...

 

But all you need are the two parts I linked correct?

 

In a perfect world, yes. But in this world of business, no. Unless you can make an adapter (and know the wiring of each pin), it won't work. I think there's a company coming out with an adapter...but we'll have to wait and see.

 

OK, the search option wasnt working for me right now, or else I would have linked the threads.

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL THREADS ON THIS TOPIC in the past. check to see if you can do a search on it.

here's a summary...
Toyota uses a proprietary IP-bus, so you cannot do a digital link from the back of the stock stereo to an xm tuner box->antenna.
You will be able to once someone comes up with an adapter to link the toyota IP-bus to the standard Pioneer/XM IP-Bus. I have not yet come accross one, but i'm in Chicago, and scion hasnt really hit hard here.

It is too bad that the dealer installed option is so expensive. an adapter would make this much more affordable by allowing XMers to use an aftermarket system.

right now the cheapest option is to get the commander or a similar RF Modulator unit. Since these run off of an unused FM Frequency instead of a direct line in, the signal is not as high quality, but not too noticable.