Sirius Install - 4Runner LTD w/Nav

[Gordo]

Hey folks, new to the forum but thought I would pass along a few observations from a recent install of a Sirius satellite radio that I did on my 05 4 Runner Limited (with factory navigation system).

I installed the Sirius Sportster 5 radio and connected it to my head unit with the Sirius FM Direct Adapter (FMDA25, ~ $20). Based on my research, this is about as good of a connection you can get short of dropping ~ $200+ for a more integrated installation.

Overall, the installation was clean and relatively easy. I found a great link to information on removing the head unit (to connect the FM Direct adapter):

How to Remove the Navigation Head Unit from a 2003 Toyota 4Runner

After installing, I found that even with the FM Direct adapter installed, I was still getting interference/static and FM radio reception when the Sirius radio was on (the FM adapter is supposed to switch from the FM antenna feed to the satellite radio feed when you power up the satellite radio - you shouldn't receive any FM radio stations when the satellite radio is on).

Pulled the head unit back out this weekend and noticed a second FM antenna connected to the head unit (on my first go, I thought the second antenna wire might be a dedicated AM antenna; turns out the radio has 2 FM antennas). I unplugged the second antenna and re-wired in the satellite radio using FM direct adapter.

I think my interference problem is solved. I'm not sure what impact it will have on my FM reception, but really don't care; I doubt I will use it now that I have the Sirius radio installed.

I mounted the Sirius radio above and left of the tach. If I get some time this week, I will post a few photos.

Gordo

 

[SubSonic]

I used an FM modulator relay with my Sirius for a while in my last truck, but went with the direct connection/NAV SYS control of my Sportster 4 when I got my '08 Runner. It does cost a little more, yes, but the sound quality (not talking about interference) is noticably better. I don't think FM transmission has the frequency range of the direct-connection, not that MPEG compressed audio is that good to begin with...but it works.

Here's hoping they continue to make CDs. Went into the local Best Buy last week and they had hardly any CDs in stock...they're not going to sell them anymore they said. Great! So now we're going to be stuck downloading all of our music? If you could take MP3s and uncompress them onto a CD without losing any of the original frequency range, fine, but you can't...they've been compressed and that data is gone, forever. Now I know how my parents felt when they said that vinyl was better than CD (it is), since CD is better than MP3 (it is) and MP3 is what we're going to be stuck with soon. How sad. Although, maybe all these soon-to-be deaf bass thumper commuters will be a thing of the past since MP3 files cannot contain (and thus cannot reproduce) the really low bass tones anymore....those really low and really high freqs are the first to get clipped when you compress a CDAUDIO track down to an MP3. In that regard, they're about on par with FM radio - so maybe your FM modulator is about as good of a connection that you need. lol

 

[mike07]

Dumb question about Sirius to in dash nav

So if I understand correctly if you want to operate Sirius through your in dash screen the Sirius unit(sportster ect) would remain in your vehicle and you would run the adapters from that unit to the nav.
I guess you wouldn't get rid of the sportster right?