Hema Explorer vs Memory Map vs Exploroz apps

[saj]

I've got my old 2nd Gen wifi+Cellular iPad up and running and looking to install one of the apps above. I've currently got the Memory Map running with the trial nsw topo 1:25k maps on my iPad (took about 6 hours to do download the 13 gigs and I'm on NBN).. I don't mind the interface but was wanting to get other opinions on any of the hundred or so GPS apps out there before I purchased my first set of maps from Memory Map, I see this as a long term thing......cheers

[Ian H]

I'm running Ozi Explorer and memory Maps on both the desk top and a Samsung tablet. I believe you need both versions so you can plot tracks and waypoints on the PC and transfer them to the tablet before you leave.

It's hard to compare but here goes.....

Memory Maps have a much cleaner looking 1:25k map than the Ozi version for the Victoria map I have. I've found tracks much easier to locate and plot making it easier to follow them when you are on the move.

For Ozi, my main map is the Hema 150 set for the whole of Aus. Great for travelling the country and we used that all the time when on the Vic to WA trip. But for minor tracks in the Vic high country for example, they weren't detailed enough.

Ozi is a far easier program to use. I made a series of videos for our 4WD club showing how to create tracks and waypoint and transfer them to a tablet. Type Idlers 4WD in to the search box on Youtube and you'll find them. This is the first one.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRLr4lXnsBg

I found that downloading the same issue you had with Memory map and downloading that file. It didn't seem to download it completely and I had to scroll around the map on the screen to let it download each section as it needed it. Bloody pain in the arse.

So I guess it's what you want it for. Highly detailed and clean looking maps, Memory Map. Really easy interface with good maps for more general stuff, Ozi.

memory Map had a falling out with their Aussie distributor recently and I think they all come from NZ now. There aren't any maps for WA, SA and NT that I can see, so that's a definite problem.

[saj]

Thx Ian, that was helpful. I won't have the Ozi Explorer option as I will be using an iPad... I'm glad the memory map topo maps look clean. I'm running the 2nd gen iPad with the 1:25K trial nsw topo from memory map and they look awesome. The only thing I'm worried about with Memory map is why did the AU support pull out.

Hema Explorer or ExplorOz apps look like a good option, if their support continues then i suppose i don't mind paying the yearly subscription but they don't have PC/Mac support. The good thing about memory map is no subscription once you have paid for the license and you can plot your trip from your computer.. So many apps out there to choose from ....cheers

[Ian H]

I'm not sure what happened with MM and the Aus supplier but the site went down for a couple of weeks and all we could see was a message saying they had discontinued that arrangement and would be back up again soon.

But as i said, the downside is that now there are no maps for a numbers of states but OK on the east coast.

I'm doing a lap of Tassie early next year and downloaded the trail 1:25K Tassi map which looks good too. I'd love to be able to get those maps on to Ozi, that would be ideal.

And yes, Ozi won't run on Apple software, sorry, I missed that bit in your post.

[alanymarce]

We're going to be doing a trip around Australia this year. We want to find a GPS map which we can load on the GPS unit (Garmin GPSMAP 64ST). We used Garmin's own maps initially however for our trip in Africa we used Tracks4Africa which is excellent. It's a *.gmapi application which is loaded on the GPS unit.



The GPS tracks are later downloaded to a MacBook Pro (Garmin Connect and Garmin Base Camp) for reference.



We also use offline maps on an iPad (ITMB pdfs and anything else we can find). So far we have never linked the GPS unit to the iPad (or the laptop) for real time navigation (perhaps we should?).


As I understand the discussion Ozi doesn't work with iPad or MacBook Pro so not an option. Memory will work but doesn't cover the whole country.



So, is there another application which will work on the GPS unit and on Apple kit?


Many thanks

[Ian H]

Maybe the Hema App would work for you but the iPad will need to have gps functionality.

https://www.hemamaps.com/navigate/hema-explorer/australia

[Jack ANT]

ExplorOz Traveller has IOS and android versions. I have both. My iPad mini was a non cell version so no GPS chip but it worked really well with a quality bluetooth GPS. Once I changed everything to android I had to re buy the maps but not the app itself. On the Samsung Tab S3 it runs really well and I would definitely recommend the app.

[alanymarce]

So: we never found a Tracks 4 Africa equivalent, and ended up using the Garmin Australia Base Map on the GPS - this base map doesn't have a very good display - you can't see minor roads/tracks unless you go down to a very large scale display. Having said that, when we were navigating on remote tracks the Garmin map did have most of them. For longer range/smaller scale navigation the Garmin map isn't very useful.



We used Google Maps and Waze when we had a cellphone signal and they were generally OK.



We did use maps.me (based on a recommendation in a post which I now cannot find) and this was excellent. This was loaded on the phone and was fine. For the next rip we may get an "add-on" GPS device for the iPad, which will give us a larger display than the phone, however the phone was OK and maps.me became the principal tool for navigation in more remote areas.

[Dicko1]

I have Memory Map, Ozi Explorer, Hema and traveller. It would be great if they could work together and make the users experience seamless. All have pros and cons. I use a 10 inch samsung tablet in the Paj. Carry a laptop with windows 10 pro as well. Main pc at home is great for planning, preparing routes, waypoints. I,d love a high resolution 10 inch tablet that ran windows (SSD card naturally) and I,d probably run Hema for windows with a variety of maps. I find the Memory Map 1:36,000 handy for my area..Nth Qld.

[Ian H]

I've given Memory map the flick and use Ozi Explorer exclusively now that free maps are available in 1:25K and even higher res in some areas.

I found Memory Map too cumbersome and they have had issues with the Australian distribution licence which hasn't helped.

Hema is virtually useless in the Vic high country with maps only at 1:150K, unless you want to pay their annual subscription for anything better, which I chose not to do.

If you haven't seen the free maps, check out http://www.getlost.com.au/downloads/

And if you get some maps, consider leaving a donation via the contact page.

[cruisn06]

I used Hema maps in my time in Oz, but now use Pocket earth for all my offorad adventures. you download each country as required. works very well.

[jaffles]

Interesting thread and glad I found it.

Thanks cruisn, have just downloaded Pocket Earth and so far so good. I'm thinking I have my phone with me 24/7, god battery life, and its small.. Great zoomable 1:25000 detail for bush walks and enough map for the car. Global to so that's exciting. Using the Wikipedia function I found our first forgotten stop on our soon to be trip. I paid the $10 for the app to remove marketing I assume, and paid the $7 to download maps. Don't think I can do better than that to be honest.

I'm so out of date I'd much prefer paper maps, but conceded you need a heap of them and they are getting hard to find these days. But when we did the Madigan I was supreme while the others digital failed. haha

Have had Memory Map and though loved the 1:25000 where you could get them or wanted to pay for them, it was always never an easy process for me. Desk to to iPad, then this big thing flopping around the dash.

I found this thread looking for clarity of Ozi Explorer, and if it works on the OE radio display. Not sure of Hema's connection to them but Hema are nothing to rave about I feel.

So happy days form left field. Pocket Maps hey. As usual no instructions just time fiddling to workout out. Time for a coffee and some me time.

[Jasonmc73]

Interesting thread and glad I found it.

Thanks cruisn, have just downloaded Pocket Earth and so far so good. I'm thinking I have my phone with me 24/7, god battery life, and its small.. Great zoomable 1:25000 detail for bush walks and enough map for the car. Global to so that's exciting. Using the Wikipedia function I found our first forgotten stop on our soon to be trip. I paid the $10 for the app to remove marketing I assume, and paid the $7 to download maps. Don't think I can do better than that to be honest.

I'm so out of date I'd much prefer paper maps, but conceded you need a heap of them and they are getting hard to find these days. But when we did the Madigan I was supreme while the others digital failed. haha

Have had Memory Map and though loved the 1:25000 where you could get them or wanted to pay for them, it was always never an easy process for me. Desk to to iPad, then this big thing flopping around the dash.

I found this thread looking for clarity of Ozi Explorer, and if it works on the OE radio display. Not sure of Hema's connection to them but Hema are nothing to rave about I feel.

So happy days form left field. Pocket Maps hey. As usual no instructions just time fiddling to workout out. Time for a coffee and some me time.

Jaffles dumb question time, but this app obviously the maps are stored on phone & its using GPS???

My point being i presume don't require phone reception obviously?

[Jasonmc73]

This might help me & others

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2lhwC3msyM

[Ian H]

I find anything on a phone too small to read map info while driving the tracks and give me all the iformation I want like upcoming waypoints etc.
An 8" tablet is about as small as I like to go.

With free high res mas available online, Ozi Explorer is by far the best in my opinion.