Stock Sirius Receiver

[FLUXEMAG]

Well your car looks good though...

Hey, as much as the name kills me, I have an audiovox sirius receiver in the cubby hole below the AC controls. It has the best FM tuner I've ever heard, much more effective than any ipod, itrip garbage. But if you live in LA or somewhere profoundly congested then maybe not a good idea. I live in PHX which by the way is the 5th largest city in the US, I've never changed the tuner from 90.1 and it always sounds great.

So audiovox has a new one similar to mine which has a recording, rewind feature. I think that would be a lot better than the stock thing. Also it comes with a remote and you can read the tracks easily.

[MCOjerry]

holy sh$t dude, that's the biggest satellite receiver ever made!

WTF, how can that not pick up reception, it almost runs into the satellite in space it's so big.

LOL! Don't mean to laugh at your dilemma, but this was funny.

Seriously, though, mine is only about an inch square, and maybe a little over 1/4 inch thick...pretty small. It gets pretty good reception too.

I cn't believe how big that is...it's absurdly large. (no jokes please)

[scottct1]

Well, the dealer screwed up! The antenna is a SIGMA antenna, which stands for Sirius Interior Glass Mounted Antenna... So... It is supposed to be mounted to the WINDSHIELD! In the space behind the rearview mirror. That would mean the part that was designed to pick up the signal was attached with tape to the trunk. Hopefully I can pick it up tommorrow and test it out!

[joebxr]

Well, the dealer screwed up! The antenna is a SIGMA antenna, which stands for Sirius Interior Glass Mounted Antenna... So... It is supposed to be mounted to the WINDSHIELD! In the space behind the rearview mirror. That would mean the part that was designed to pick up the signal was attached with tape to the trunk. Hopefully I can pick it up tommorrow and test it out!

Why can't they just pick up a external antennae and add that into the system and not use the stock one?

[MCOjerry]

Well, the dealer screwed up! The antenna is a SIGMA antenna, which stands for Sirius Interior Glass Mounted Antenna... So... It is supposed to be mounted to the WINDSHIELD! In the space behind the rearview mirror. That would mean the part that was designed to pick up the signal was attached with tape to the trunk. Hopefully I can pick it up tommorrow and test it out!

YOU'RE KDDING!! Dude, you need to tell that dealership to give you that system for FREE!

Also, even inside the window, that antenna is HUGE. Jus get one of the small magnetic ones. That antenna is WICKETY WACK

I guess that would explain the bad reception thoough. Stupide dealership workers. I hope it doesn't ruin your pait. Give 'em hell and make sure it's done right!

[MCOjerry]

OK. So I have still been wavering back and forth about getting a stock Toyota Sirius receiver. It's just too expensive. Total for parts and install was well over $600.

My problem is that the FM transmitter just isn't sutting it. There's too much static lately.

so I went to Circuit City and foud this:



It's a powered FM modulator which is supposed to eliminate any of the static for clear reception. It was $112, and $100 to install...you do the math, that's a ton cheaper than Toyota. This wil work with any stereo, and when I trade my car, I can take it out and sell it, ven to someone with an old car. Did you know Crcuit City will remove anything they install for free when you trade your car?? They will return everything to stock for you. That's cool.

Since I didn't like the display that came with it, I bought this:

Sportster 4. My current plug n play is backlit with ornage, so this blue will look better. Plus, it's smaller. This was only a little over $100 and all Sirius components are now universal, so this can go from car to car or to home.

I'm really hoping that this set-up eliminates that interference. I'll let you all know how it works out.

[PXLpainter]

Jerry - where did they mount the antenna? Also - does this still work with the steering wheel controls? And where does the display get mounted??

[MCOjerry]

I'm having it installed tomorrow, but you can put the antenna anywhere. I'm going to ask them to put it on the trunk, as close to the seam as possible. I don't wasnt that rubber thing they use to cover the wire up anywhere on my car, so I want the wire to disappear into the trunk quickly.

It's still a plug an play, so it works through the FM band, but is supposed to be much stronger and eliminate the interference. That means it doesn't affect the steering wheel controls, they still work. I looked at the package, and it somehow conects to the car antenna.

The reason my current plu n play doesn't work so well is that the transmitter is VERY low power. It only gets power from the car power outlet. this unit is installed, and get's plugged into the car to receive power.

Obviously, I'm no mechanic or audio guy, so I'm really over simplifying it, but the guy at Circuit City said it would eliminate the interference, and their installation is guaranteed...so if it no worky, I taky backy

I have high hopes though, because this type of set-up is recommended by Sirius for areas with no free spots on the FM band.

I've been getting so annoyed lately, because I'm forever having to change the band the radio plays over...not exactly safe to do while driving!

Oh, and the display that comes with the unit is attached with velcro, pretty much anywhere you want. They can put the velcro anywhere, but i'll bet it's a bith to get off! However, as you can see from the pic, the display that comes with it is pretty basic and cheap, so I bought the other one I posted a pic of. It comes with two ways to mount; suction cup holder, or some air vent mount. Ain't no way I'm covering up an air vent in Florida!!

As a side note, the one I bought has a 44 minute replay on it. It will let you pause stuff while you talk on the phone, or whatever, and then start playing again. Like TiVo for yor car. I thought that was kind of cool. Plus, if you are a sports fan, it alerts you to when your team's game is on or when their scores change (when game is on).

[PXLpainter]

Okay - I guess I'm not understanding what the sat has to do with the FM??

I thought it was a separate part of the HU - like the CD changer mode, etc... doesn't the sat plug into the back in the aux?

Cunfewzed.

[MCOjerry]

The box in the first pic is just a powered FM modulator that they connect to the radio. All it does is make the signal really strong. the connection part helps too, but I'm not sure how it connects. I can probably tell you more tomorrow.

You still control the sat from the display, not the stock HU. There is no way to get the sat in the stock HU, except to buy a Toyota Sirius receiver, and I can't justify the price. I think it was $678 installed.

If I can eliminate the static, I'll be grinning from ear to ear. I don't mind the separate unit.

Did that make any more sense? I'm sorry I'm not good at explaining things. If I were to do a tutorial on something, you'd all be driving around cars the fall apart!

If you want me to explain how you underwrite a mortgage loan, I can do that all day long!

[MCOjerry]

Oh, and I'll take pics if you want after it's installed.

[PXLpainter]

LOL Jerry - thanks... I did a little looking online at the unit you got - looks really nice! I doubt the unit from Toyota has as many features - and damn! What's up with that fugy antenna they use??

Take some pics once its installed!

Thanks!

[MCOjerry]

I'm going to use the antenna that comes with the display, not the modulator.

The one with the display is completely round, and smaller than the size of a half dollar. Definitely not as big as the one in the pic above.

I hope I can, at least

[MCOjerry]

OK...so I went to CC today to get my stuff installed. When I got there, the installer gave me a weird look. Apparently, the guy I bought the stuff from was a little over zealous, and sold me stuff I didn't need.

The first pic above is a complete kit, with the FM modulator. Since I didn't want that receiver, the guy today told me that I didn't need that. He said all I needed was an FM modualtor. Hmmm...that's what I thought I bought. He said I bought a tuner/modulator, and that the receiver I bought already has the receiver. The display that came with that kit is just that, a display only. So, turns out that the whole thing cost me $30, rather than $112. The FM modulator alone is only $30. Cool!

So, I had it installed an can I tell you...I drove all over. NO STATIC!!!! My ears are rejoicing. Plus, with the antenna in the trunk, I'm getting better satellite reception. The guy talked me into using the antenna that came with my old radio. He said it was better than the one that came with my new receiver. So I did. It's a little biger than the new one, but since I already had it on the car, I just kept it.

Here are the pics. Please excuse the DIRTY car. I'm not good at keeping it clean, and even though I park under covered parking, there's a tree right next to me that drops crap all over me car (I'm gonna chop that damned thing down!! )

This first two are the receiver install. It's dark here already, so the pice aren't that great. I tried my best.



This one is the staight on view of the steering wheel, so you can see it really doesn't obstruct the view.


The next are of the antenna on the trunk. I tried to take several, but they are not great. Like I said, it's dark here on the right side of the country. I tried to take different agles, and some from further away for some perspective, showing that it's really not that big. Still...I might get some lunar mist touch up paint and paint it. Then you really have to look to see it.

[MCOjerry]

^^WOW, I REALLY need a detail !!! Pictures really show how dirty the inside of a convertible gets!

Incidentally, they did a good job on the install. Finally I have Sirius with none of my jumble of wires. Everything is hidden except what you see coming out of the back of the receiver.

When they opened up the door, they looked at what I did and asked who installed it. I said that it was a professional install, then laughed. I got them to laugh to