I promised I would let you all know how I did it, so here we go.

Step #1. Go out and buy the XM Terk Commander. They go for as little as $120 on eBay. Here is what they look like. http://www.xmradio.com/commander/

Step #2. Get online and purchase these two accessories from P.I.E. Here is the first one. Its an adapter to make the new smaller port on the back of the factory headunit into the more common bigger Toyota port so more things will fit it. http://www.logjamelectronics.com/pietoy03fmm.html
The next thing you will need is the actual Auxiliary Input Converter. This is so that you can hook up your XM Commander using RCA cables. The Commander unit itself has line out's for this purpose. http://www.logjamelectronics.com/pietoyaux.html

Step #3. Get someone to install it for you. I got mine installed for just over $100 at Best Buy.

Now, please be aware that this setup is only to avoid the crappy sounding fm modulation and you still can't control XM from the factory headunit. So, you have to use the Commander's display. But, to me this is better 'cause it is has much faster load times and also it lets you preview the channel before you tune in. I will answer any questions you may have.

Here is what my setup looks like.

 

Good info, but that still ends up being quite a bit of money for the few extra features. That's almost $220 there without the installation fee's.

 

Sorry about the pics, I will try to get them up later.

 

Hey, thats still better than what they charge for the factory setup. I already had the Commander unit from my old car, so I wasnt out that much money. I think its worth it just for the sound quality 'cause fm modulation sucks big time.

 

That's true. I should be getting a commander in the mail sometime soon since I came in first place for the second week of Scionroadtrip. :D

 

Login to imagestation and try going here for the pics. http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4286281181

 

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...a/f7ea30dd.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...8/f7ea30dc.jpg


sigh...I want a Commander

Let's say you're listening to a CD....what do you do to listen to XM? Switch to a FM station like 88.1 or something? Or is there an aux?

 

No, its not ran through an fm channel. I wanted to get away from modulation because of the poor sound quality. Its a direct connection. If im listening to a CD and want to switch to XM, I just press the "Disc" button again. I think its set up to the CD changer controls because when I tune to XM, the display on the Pioneer says CD1 1- . as if I had the 6 disc changer, which I dont have.

 

Oh sweet! that rocks! I think I'm sold! ...now I need money for an XM Commander and adapters

The 10 bucks a month ain't bad...but the $$$ to start up...that's what sucks.

 

Can you email me the pictures, I'd be glad to host them for you so I could see how your set-up looks. I was wondering where you decided to mount the faceplate of the Commander since you are not really relocating the stock headunit, correct?

The Scion satellite option is still pretty expensive compared. I think if the OEM option was around $350.00 it would be more desirable but, with the cost of the six-disc and satellite it gets to be way out of most people's budgets...defiinitely mine.

With the Commander do you now have RCA inputs for more add-ond like an iPod or other mp3 player?

 

Hey, I didnt see your e mail address in your profile. You can pm me with it and I will send you the pics. The Commander faceplate display is located in a very cool place. I told them I wanted it above the CD player, so I thought they would just use velcro to stick it on there. They didnt do that. They actually built some kind of harness that make it sit on top of the dash, just above the cd player. Its super cool. You really need to see it to know what im talking about.

About the cost. I think you misred me. I dont have the actual CD changer. I just have the basic single disc headunit. But, even the single disc one has controls for the changer. I think thats how this is set up. Actually, it would be less than $350. You can get a Commander for $120. The accessories cost about $110. Then, shop around for someone to install it. Usually, the big chain stores run free installation specials. But the most you would pay is $100. So, it would be more like $330 or lower.

 

His email is a button... themeek@earthlink.net

The 6 CD Changer is also indash (like the single), so I guess this method of installing XM will work with the 6 CD Changer too.

 

I just e mailed you the pics. Thanks for hosting them. The Commander has RCA "outputs" for sound out. So, I dont know if you can hook up an iPod to it. But, you could probably hook one up to the AUX Input accessory that I noted here before. I think thats its purpose. You might have to get another accessory for your iPod to make it work, but im sure its very possible.

 

http://www.logjamelectronics.com/soundsds1.html
http://www.logjamelectronics.com/piex3auxconv.html

You can get one of those...

 

Thanks, this is a pretty nice set-up pee...How is it standing up like that? Sorry missed that part about the harness...great install they did! :D So, where is this place that did it L.A. ?

 

Hey, thanks. I honestly dont know how they did it. Looks as if there is some kind of harness that mounts inside the dash and then goes into the display unit. It is VERY solid. I got it done at the Best Buy here in good 'ol Lexington, KY.

On a side note. Im loving the digital sound. I went soo long using fm modulation and had no idea xm could sound this good. It really sounds like a CD, no s*it. It was worth every penny. Awesome!

 

Will this work with the 6-disk changer?
According to the website for the product is says it will only work with single disk units and not the indash 6-disk changer.

http://www.logjamelectronics.com/pietoyaux.html

My reasoning also for not thinking it will work is because how would you select this new audio source from the head unit. If you hit the cd changer button won't it use the indash 6 disk not the converter?

Anyone know?

 

That is a good question. Im not sure if it would work. With mine, you just toggle between the CD and the XM with the same button. Maybe you have to press it 3 times if you have the changer, but who knows?

 

Also BlitzSafe is coming out with an adapter that would make it so you can directly plug in any XM Unit(Pioneer Add-On Tuners, SkiFi, Sony Add-On, etc) directly into the back of the stock unit.

~wC

 

I have read another post that says you can use pioneer part #CDRB10 . I did a internet seach and found a couple of places that sell it. It seems to plug into the p-bus. However, I don't know enough about Pioneer head unints to know if the stock SCION HU uses a P-Bus for the 6 disk indash changer.

Hopefully, someone with a 6-disk will try to do the same thing that peestandingup did with his single disk. I think alot of people would want to be able to hook up an aux device to their stock head unit cause XM and portable MP3 players are both cool. Especially if you can use the 6 disk for normal cd's and use a ipod or something for MP3's since the playlists are easier to manage than when you burn them to CD-R's.

If anyone does a 6-disk aux please post.

Another thought. I was thinking it may work with the 6-disk. Since you can get the 6-disk and XM radio. I wonder how you select the factory XM radio from the HU with a 6-disk changer? HMMMMMM