Terk integrated XM tuner for Gen6

[ptbr45]

I think either system works great. I purchased the factory unit off eBay for about $250. It took me 45 minutes to put in the entire factory system in my car last weekend. Works great. The steering wheel controls work for XM presets just like the AM/FM presets. The antenna is installed in the factory location to the passenger side of the 3rd brake light, but not right at the rear window.

The factory unit is one box mounted in the trunk, one cable that runs to the back of my Nav system and the antenna mounted on the "package shelf". Simple.

[murky]

Originally Posted by AbbyKay

Did you install the XM receiver yourself or did Toyota do it? Do you mind telling me what it cost? I am in the process of buying an '08 Highlander with Nav. The dealer on Saturday couldn't tell me squat about the XM - they wanted to set up an aftermarket install, but I am worried about compabitbility - all this 10 character vs. 16 character talk on the internet has me worried I'll get a half-a___d system if I don't give the explicit enough instructions as to what I want, how I want the antenna mounted, etc. Any advice?

I did it myself. It cost $150, and came with a mail-in rebate for $50. So, $99.
When I asked the dealer about a dealer install, they quoted me, like, $700. The Terk is NOT a half-ass system. The character clipping you are concerned about is present on the factory unit also (at least that is what I have gathered reading the threads, correct me if I am wrong.)

Hope that helps...? let us know how it all ends up!

[ptbr45]

[quote=murky;2269578]The character clipping you are concerned about is present on the factory unit also (at least that is what I have gathered reading the threads, correct me if I am wrong.)[quote]

Murky: You are correct. My factory system clips the characters the same way. I think the only difference I have heard of between the two systems is that the steering wheel preset controls when used with the Terk will scroll through all 3 of the SAT preset groups. With the factory XM tuner you have to use the "mode" button to change the preset group. The preset controls only scroll through the current group.

[thoots]

To try to toss in any clarification on the Terk system that I can....

1. Indeed, the steering wheel up/down buttons only go through presets, not up/down amongst unprogrammed channels.

2. Indeed, the steering wheel up/down buttons go through ALL THREE of the sets of presets you can program for XM. And then goes back to the first preset. Far handier than the OEM system if you have to change modes to do that....

3. The Terk system supposedly displays the 16-character XM standard. I'd expect that the OEM system does the same. It's just that the Camry JBL system only displays the first 12 characters. The navigation system might well show all 16 characters.

In the end, the Terk system is fine -- the sound quality is excellent, and it works perfectly fine. If you can get it for half the price (or less) than the OEM system, then don't let anything scare you away from getting one!