I am purchasing a GPS soon, want to branch out a bit from the usual spots and need to embrace some technology (do you really need to cart a 14 year old round for tech support?) so I am pretty well settled on a Hema, what real life problems will I find with one, is there a better system on the market? I am reasonably competent with computers etc. so not living in fear of the purchase.
Any advice appreciated.
Michael
Consider VMS units (more user friendly than Hema) or Garmin Nuvi's.
Have a good look at the reviews and blogs.
Myself... I eventually settled on a Garmin Nuvi 765. As well as the very good Citynav maps for general use I also loaded it with Shonky maps (freeware) which have served me well off-road so far, but may get Garmin Topo maps in the future if I become convinced that they are superior to Shonky.
The 765's bluetooth (for mobile handsfree phone) and SD card storage (for heaps of MP3's - FM transmitted to car's sound system) mean that I have it switched on in the 'burbs even though I don't need an navigation assistance.
I am purchasing a GPS soon, want to branch out a bit from the usual spots and need to embrace some technology (do you really need to cart a 14 year old round for tech support?) so I am pretty well settled on a Hema, what real life problems will I find with one, is there a better system on the market? I am reasonably competent with computers etc. so not living in fear of the purchase.
Any advice appreciated.
Michael
hi michael,
by the way the Hema is actually a VMS unit with oziexplorer included. i have a hema unit and find it very good, used it travelling all over Vic, Sa, NT including Simpson desert.
wouldn't go anywhere without it
ray.....
Location: Redbank Plains. Home of the BIG RIG, 4301
Posts: 5,175
Quote:
Originally Posted by hortra2
hi michael,
by the way the Hema is actually a VMS unit with oziexplorer included. i have a hema unit and find it very good, used it travelling all over Vic, Sa, NT including Simpson desert.
wouldn't go anywhere without it
ray.....
I've been in the same boat. I have finally began teaching myself how to drive OziExplorer on my laptop and have found it fantastic. I am using a 700 series Garmin at the moment and so far i can still use it to upload waypoints that I create on my laptop with some great topo maps. This will get me by over Xmas but i must say my options so far are to load OziExplorer onto a netbook computer and mount it in the vehicle. At lease I get a 10 inch screen OR buy the new Hema navigator that will be released in Feb next year. It has a slightly bigger screen than the old one and also uses memory map as well so I would get the best of both worlds.
I must admitt though I have seen RodW's set up and it is fantastic so i'm leaning towards the netbook idea..
I've been in the same boat. I have finally began teaching myself how to drive OziExplorer on my laptop and have found it fantastic. I am using a 700 series Garmin at the moment and so far i can still use it to upload waypoints that I create on my laptop with some great topo maps. This will get me by over Xmas but i must say my options so far are to load OziExplorer onto a netbook computer and mount it in the vehicle. At lease I get a 10 inch screen OR buy the new Hema navigator that will be released in Feb next year. It has a slightly bigger screen than the old one and also uses memory map as well so I would get the best of both worlds.
I must admitt though I have seen RodW's set up and it is fantastic so i'm leaning towards the netbook idea..
Thanks guys.
I liked the netbook idea but thought it would take up way too much room and be unreliable due to bluetooth etc. (really just my unresearched) impression and really wanted one that did all, city and bush.
Must chase up RodW' and see if there are any pics.
Ray have you used the Hema in the hills where there may be some track congestion?
Is Ozimaps the ducks guts?
Michael
I've been in the same boat. I have finally began teaching myself how to drive OziExplorer on my laptop and have found it fantastic. I am using a 700 series Garmin at the moment and so far i can still use it to upload waypoints that I create on my laptop with some great topo maps. This will get me by over Xmas but i must say my options so far are to load OziExplorer onto a netbook computer and mount it in the vehicle. At lease I get a 10 inch screen OR buy the new Hema navigator that will be released in Feb next year. It has a slightly bigger screen than the old one and also uses memory map as well so I would get the best of both worlds.
I must admitt though I have seen RodW's set up and it is fantastic so i'm leaning towards the netbook idea..
Mark
Have you progressed with the laptop idea yet, I am looking into it at the moment, gone away from the hema idea (maybe) There are some in dash touch screen units on ebay that seem to be ok though the idea though of using the tool (laptop) in the car that you had set up your trip on sounds appealing a lot less stuffing around I would imagine.
Michael
Rodw has videoed (2 parts to it) the system in operation and it a full computer. It is the best I have seen, I do like the VMS and Hema systems but saw an interesting one in USA which is a WinCE 6 system with everything built in. The one I have seen in Australia is via eBay which would be sent to Australia from Hong Kong.
Location: Redbank Plains. Home of the BIG RIG, 4301
Posts: 5,175
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikl
Mark
Have you progressed with the laptop idea yet, I am looking into it at the moment, gone away from the hema idea (maybe) There are some in dash touch screen units on ebay that seem to be ok though the idea though of using the tool (laptop) in the car that you had set up your trip on sounds appealing a lot less stuffing around I would imagine.
Michael
Hi Michael, i have progressed with the netbook idea. I just unpacked my new net book and charged it up. I'm on it now. Got OziExplorer loaded on it and now transferring all my maps across. It is an Acer Aspire 10.1" screen with 1GB Ram and a 250 GB hard drive. Webcam and all the stuff i don't need running windows 7 all for $450.00. It cost me $199.00 for the 12 volt power supply so all i need to do now is add a USB satelight transceiver for $80.00 at J/ Appleseed GPS and i'm all rigged up. A lot cheaper than the new Hema that isn't quite released, bigger screen for us older folk to see better so i'm pretty happy. J Appleseed have numerous solutions for mounting from less than $100 up to $350 but this thing is featherweight and doesn't take up any more room than the kids DVD that I got hanging on the rear headrest. It will fit easily between the frond seats accesable by both driver and passenger. I'll keep you posted on how it all comes together next week.
Consider VMS units (more user friendly than Hema) or Garmin Nuvi's.
Have a good look at the reviews and blogs.
...snip...
I have a mate who bought a VMS AVNC 3000, VMS's top of the line double DIN unit at $2500. He went on a 2 week trip from Adelaide, to Cameron's Corner and around Lake Eyre, and apparently the thing worked for about 35 minutes the entire way. It constantly froze, wouldn't play the DVDs and the menu system was terrible. He called the store halfway through his trip and apparently VMS were quite happy to refund him completely.
He bought the HEMA afterwards and that constantly froze, funny enough it uses VMS's hardware. From what I've read, there is a new HEMA Navigator available in 2nd week January that is all new hardware, with a HEMA rep saying they have severed their contract with VMS.
In the meantime, I use a Nuvi 760 with Tracks4Australia, although the Garmin Topo mapping is excellent in a Dakota or Oregon handheld (but terrible in Nuvis).
Hema or not to Hema
Linear Mode
