04 Solara SLE is XM radio ready? What's that mean?

[fotodad]

hoooolyc crap... kudos to Fotodad for putting that much effort into this. After all that hassle, I'm amazed you're still willing to go through with it all. Now, I have an aftermarket headunit (Alpine 9815), will it cost that much as well?

It shouldn't cost you anywhere near that. You should PM "Luc" or "Jaded," they are without a doubt the forum's car stereo experts. They'd be able to give you a good idea what you need and about what it will cost. I ended up getting a plug and play unit made by Streamer which uses the Sirius satellite service.

[Luc]

Now, I have an aftermarket headunit (Alpine 9815), will it cost that much as well?

Since you have the 9815, all you need is the TUAT020XM, a XM hideaway tuner using the Ai-Net databus for direct plug in. It shouldn't cost you more than $200.

[mpprice]

I just received this response from BlitzSafe about the availability for an 04
Solara with the XM ready (sure!) Nav system.

********************************************
The new radios have a CD changer port that we will be able to give an audio only input in the next few months. The Toyota satellite ready radios will be compatible probably within a year we just finished BMW and MINI. I will put you on the notification list.

Thanks,
Christian Rodriguez
BlitzSafe Technical Support
techsupport@blitzsafe.com
201-569-5000 800-597-SAFE
********************************************

Has anyone figured out what the OEM of the Nav system is yet? Everyone keeps saying JBL - but I can't find them on the web, doing anything but speakers and sound related devices . . .

mpp

[fotodad]

Has anyone figured out what the OEM of the Nav system is yet? Everyone keeps saying JBL - but I can't find them on the web, doing anything but speakers and sound related devices . . .

mpp

I don't know who the OEM for the navigation unit is, but I heard from a relatively reliable source that the OEM on the radio/cd changer/cassette deck was Panasonic. Maybe they make both the nav and the radio? JBL only makes the speakers.

[jp82729]

Has anyone figured out what the OEM of the Nav system is yet? Everyone keeps saying JBL - but I can't find them on the web, doing anything but speakers and sound related devices . . .
mpp

The nav OEM is Denso.

[mpprice]

Ya - I just figured that out. And that is good news and bad news.

The good news is that Denso seems to be the best or at least up there with the highest rated producers of this technology.

The bad news is that we are not going to find parts, drawings, or schematics available as easily as the standard makes.

FYI on Denso and the nav system

http://www.denso.com.au/dw/satnav/satnav_gen.htm

FYI link for all the players . . .

http://www.autonav2000.com/Compare/compare2.htm

mpp

[jmack]

My dealer didn't know about XM at time of sale, but now is all too happy to charge $775 to install a unit that supposedly plugs into the back of the JBL radio. They do not exactly know how it works because they have never installed one before. I tried calling a bunch of places to see if any JBL / Harmon Kardon pieces would be compatible, but nobody knows anything. I do not want a seprate face plate on my new car. I had a Delphi xm hanging off the dash of my old car, but that is not good for a new car. Any advice would be helpful.

[Gyaf]

Top!

So, to bring this stuff back up - I just ordered a 2004 Solara convertible yesterday. not sure when I'll get it, but I'd like to figure out a lot of this audio stuff now, if possible.

In talking to fotodad who dealt w/ all this once, in the 4 months since, has anyone actually opened up the '04 solara radio to see if there is any input for a line in either for a ipod/nomad type mp3 device and/or a sirius/xm radio input?

then, hoping that the convertible radio just happens to be the same as the coupe.

Thanks for the help in advance - the new guy.