Mapping

I certainly wouldn't recommend Mud Maps. Mud maps 2 has ben discontinued. MM are up to their old tricks and dumped MM2 users ( like they did with M1 users) and support and maps stop soon ( eg "The map will stop working soon. )

An upgrade to MM3 is $125 plus the cost of buying the maps again, however Westprint maps can be converted across for free.

Avoid Mud Map like the plague is my advice. They have now done this 3 times ( MM1, MM2 and their mapping device)

I have an ASUS memopad 7" android tablet (wifi only) with built-in GPS which was only $99.I run Oziexplorer with various maps including Hema,Rooftop and Greg Harewood Maps.
It has survived trips to the C.S.R.,Gibb River Road and a trip to the Vic High Country (from Perth).

^^^^^^^
What he said. Plus the Hema 4wd maps on the Ipad are a rebadged memory map and you can buy any memory Map for it.

The free topo250K map that you can get on Memory Map has 99.9% of all tracks in Australia and is one of the best maps you can get.

You can't go wrong with Memory Map or Oziexplorer IMHO.

Also if you are getting a tablet for GPS and travelling you can get an Android for $200 - 300. If you get am Ipad you will be up for $500 plus. To get GPS on an IPAD, you must buy the more expensive Cellular ones which are the only ones that come with a GPS. Some wifi only IPAD users buy an external GPS called a Bad Elf but this works out more expensive, is clunky to use and often doesn't work when Apple block it with new software releases.

Agree with Boobook with respect to the Topo250k Aus map. The only caution is that it does require 3G or wifi coverage. To avoid this you can bulk download the sections you will need prior to your travel. As I stated the Hema maps are downloaded in full when you buy them and don't require bulk downloads.
Although the Hema maps are very good because of their scale some finer detail is lost. For travel in areas such as the Vic High Country you can't beat the Vic 1:25000 Topo series. The NSW Topo are equally as good for areas such as the Brindabella Mountains near Canberra.

Hi Robert,

Actually the Topo250K Aus map doesn't require 3G or Wifi coveragel. You just need to ensure that you have downloaded the entire map and installed it on your device before you leave home (same as I'm guessing you did for the Hema maps).

The two files you need can be downloaded directly from the australian memory map website;
http://memory-map.com.au/mapchunks/AUS/Topo250-2.qct
http://memory-map.com.au/mapchunks/AUS/Topo250-2.qc3

Thes files can then be copied onto your android device and accessed as you would have done for the Hema maps you downloaded.

I hope this helps yourself and others.

John

Hi John,
Thanks for your advice regarding the Aus Topo. I am sure you have found it a very useful map as I have done.
Regards

Robert, as John points out you don't need the Wifi or 3g connection for any Memory map, you can download them in bulk at home or on an as needed basis on the road. I prefer bulk and have them all downloaded so I never need an internet connection.

"The free topo250K map that you can get on Memory Map has 99.9% of all tracks in Australia and is one of the best maps you can get"

mmm - with all due respect the "free topo250K map" doesn't show "99.9% of all tracks in Australia" - wouldn't come close (my guess ..less than 10% based on distance). No such map exists. The 250K map doesn't even show any streets in cities (just highways/major arteries) let alone "all the tracks" in the bush.

Handy in "outback" areas where tracks better represented, so not saying its no good but 99.9% is a gross exaggeration of the facts. For more detail in some areas (e.g. southern forested areas where numerous tracks not shown on 250K scale map) you may find 50K, 25K maps or air/sat pictures show far more detail.

Cheers
Greg

Greg, yep it does have scant detail in the cities, it isn't for that though.

In the country however, it does have the most complete set of tracks that I have seen. It is very rare that a track ( as opposed to a suburban road) does not appear.

For example, there is not a track missing in the high country that I have found, every tack across innaminca and the santos fields, every small track on and neat the ABH, CSH, Googs track, all the mine fields around tarcoola etc tc.

Sure 99.9% is an exaggeration. I'll back it off to 98 - 99%

"Sure 99.9% is an exaggeration. I'll back it off to 98 - 99%"

Fair enough but that only applies to areas where there is 98 - 99% coverage...in other areas it would be far less, so the average wouldn't come close to 98 or 99%.

Example - I have a track file here from a relativity small area of the GVD that shows over 300 km of tracks. In the same area the 250K map you claim has 98 to 99% coverage shows ....wait for it....~37 km of tracks = ~12% (based on distance).

I could provide additional examples from the south west of WA where the 250k Map is pretty useless for navigating "tracks" in most areas. In this area it's only good for illustrating your relative position to major highway/towns/features, which is fine and suits some people needs but please...

I dont really know the extent of coverage of track on the 250K map compared to reality but I dont think there is really any need to exaggerate the facts beyond belief given it is actually a good map for the purpose intended (which doesn't include showing 99% of tracks - not actually possible on a map of that scale).

Plus dont forget the EOTopo 200K map - even better that the 250K map as far as tracks go.

Cheers
Greg

I like to have both running at the same time, the 250k on my phone for an overview of where I am in realtion to well known land marks, and the finer detail map on a tablet because it has tracks not shown on the other map. The 250k map is free so no use whinging about it, but the finer detail maps are worth paying for. Each has its place.

Yes 250K map is great for its intended purpose but it aint the one and only. You can never have enough maps :)

Cheers
Greg