Hema Navigator

Hi all,

Looking at the HEMA Navigator HN5 as a replacement for my current Garmin Nuvi760.
i like the fact that it has both the street nav and a dedicated offroad/ 4X4 package along with the reversing camera capability. the topo mapping is a bonus but would probably not be used a great deal.
I see that ww.vms4x4.com have one available aswell, does anyone have any info on either model?

all reviews/opinions/thoughts appreciated!

Cheers,

Jackson
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: Member - Wayne B (NSW) - Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 20:21

Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 20:21
The Hema is great for off road adventures combined with OZ explore mapping software it is hard to beat.

Most people with the Hema are not all that happy with Rout 66 City Maps.

Unless you are going to do some outback adventuring I think the Garmin or some other brand of normal GPS is cheaper and dose a better job in the city's and towns.

Just my view.

Cheers
Wayne B
AnswerID: 423685

Follow Up By: Polaris - Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 21:13

Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 21:13
I agree - if you want to upgrade, get another Nuvi.

We recently upgraded from a Navman to a Nuvi 1490T and added Shonkymaps (free) and also Tracks 4 Australia (also free) , and with the Nuvi it is easy to change from one mapset to another.
I also use Garmin Topo Australia in a handheld Garmin 60CSx which is used on my dirtbike. Also have shonky in it too - more than enough!

Even if you bought the Garmin Topo Australia, it would still be a lot cheaper, and better than the Hema Navigator. As Wayne has highlighted - many are dis-satisfied with the Route 66 City maps in the Navigator. The Nuvi 1490T city navigator is great.

Just my view -

Polaris
0
FollowupID: 694163

Reply By: Member - Leon A (SA) - Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 20:32

Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 20:32
If you want to use your gps for street nav at all, do NOT buy a Hema. I took mine back and swapped for a VMS best move ever!!
AnswerID: 423690

Follow Up By: Member - Tony S (WA) - Monday, Jul 12, 2010 at 18:13

Monday, Jul 12, 2010 at 18:13
agree with VMS.
The rig

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 694259

Reply By: ABR - SIDEWINDER - Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 20:32

Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 20:32
I tend to agree, Route 66 is a joke and Hema is over priced for what it is, I am sorry I paid $1000 for the system.

Rather by a $200 GPS and load the software you need.
AnswerID: 423691

Follow Up By: Member - Bucky - Monday, Jul 12, 2010 at 05:09

Monday, Jul 12, 2010 at 05:09
Good call Derek

I totally agree..
myself, I am looking at a double DIN GPS, of Ebay, but still love my Magellan Explorist 600.
Kinda makes it hard to justify spending a whole lot more, just to be "trendy".

Cheers
Bucky
0
FollowupID: 694178

Reply By: MattyA_LC105 - Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 20:44

Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 20:44
Totally agree with the above comments. Great for offroad maps which I now use for onroad mapping now as well. Route 66 is a waste of memory on the GPS and I am forever having to second guess it and go in the correct direction. I will be pulling my old TomTom out of retirement for street use when I finish my travels.
AnswerID: 423694

Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 20:54

Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 20:54
Hi Jackson
You will find that most people that but the HN5 buy it for its off road ability and in Ozi mode, you can not beat it for out of the way navigation. I am very impressed when I use Ozi on it, the same features as when using a laptop, but in a smaller unit that fits nicely on the front windscreen. If you are driving in cities and built up areas all the time, then your Nuvi is all you need.

Sure you can buy cheaper units and buy the add ons, but the Hema has it out of the box, ready to power up and away you go.

Cheers

Stephen
Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

AnswerID: 423697

Reply By: JohnnyC - Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 21:43

Sunday, Jul 11, 2010 at 21:43
Hi Jacko,
Hema is great in the bush but not so flash in the city, I found that Route66 has problems with street numbers and not really up to date with road closures etc, but it will get you close.
It threw a wobbly once and the tech support was first class.
AnswerID: 423706

Reply By: Member - res.q.guy (Vic.) - Monday, Jul 12, 2010 at 06:57

Monday, Jul 12, 2010 at 06:57
Hi Jackson
You could look at a generic Chinese unit, change the menu system and run Ozi Exp CE and Garmin XT. Then you would have the best of both words. XT works the same as your Garmin unit , with vector maps, and you can run Ozi Exp CE with raster maps, just a thought !
Some links that may be of interest:
Chinese GPS
Menu System
Cheers
Neil
AnswerID: 423728

Follow Up By: Ozhumvee - Monday, Jul 12, 2010 at 07:34

Monday, Jul 12, 2010 at 07:34
Agree totally Neil, I've had mine running reliably for over three years now, the Chinese units usually come with Igo for turn by turn navigation which is great.
0
FollowupID: 694181

Reply By: Jacko84 - Monday, Jul 12, 2010 at 08:08

Monday, Jul 12, 2010 at 08:08
thanks to all for the quick and honest feedback!

could anyone elaborate further on why it is no good on-road?
poor navigation, out of date maps, not quick enough etc?
AnswerID: 423734

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Monday, Jul 12, 2010 at 09:00

Monday, Jul 12, 2010 at 09:00
Hi Jack
I do not know why you get the idea that they are no good on road, they are brilliant.

Cheers

Stephen
Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 694192

Follow Up By: The Explorer - Wednesday, Jul 14, 2010 at 15:29

Wednesday, Jul 14, 2010 at 15:29
Hi Jacko

Yes this is the problem - lots of people bag Route 66 but very few actually provide any clues as to what the problem is. Not saying there are no problems - just wondering like you what they are. I have HN5 and have used Route 66 a bit - cant say its any worse or better than others I have used - certainly not bad enough to chuck a huge grumpy...maybe I just dont use it enough...anyway all navigators can be faulted if you try hard enough.

The route 66 software for the HN5 has actaully just been updated to fix some issues (routing issues I think) plus new Australian map so possible some of the existing opinions on the software are no longer relevant.

Cheers
Greg.
I sent one final shout after him to stick to the track, to which he replied “All right,” That was the last ever seen of Gibson - E Giles 23 April 1874

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message
Moderator

0
FollowupID: 694452

Reply By: chuditch - Monday, Jul 12, 2010 at 17:14

Monday, Jul 12, 2010 at 17:14
I have also been looking at the options and have focussed on choosing between the Hema HN5 and the VMS 500.

VMS appear to have updated the Touring 500 model and have released [from 10th July] an updated model called the Touring 500S.

Their website is yet to be updated with the details of the new features but based on a full page advert in the latest edition of 4X4 Australia it appears to utilise WhereiS for street nav, together with Itopo maps and now the addition of Gregory 4wd touring maps.

I am leaning towards the VMS as there are many derogatory comments on various sites in relation to the usability of Route 66 as supplied with the Hema unit.

This was previously counter balanced by the fact that the Hema unit had both Oziexplorer and Hema maps. Now that the VMS unit has the Gregory maps in addition to iTopo I think the VMS has the edge for me.

Now, I just need to find a dealer in WA with one of the VMS 500S units so I can fire one up and check it out.

Lance
AnswerID: 423817

Follow Up By: Member - Tony S (WA) - Monday, Jul 12, 2010 at 18:24

Monday, Jul 12, 2010 at 18:24
Try Terlin Outbacker - phone Terry Clinch on 94554288.
The rig

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 694264

Reply By: Going Bush - Monday, Jul 12, 2010 at 18:56

Monday, Jul 12, 2010 at 18:56
I paid $1000 for a Hema Navigator, Absolute waste of money, as stated the Rote 66 street navigation is so bad its an embarrasment , the Hema 4x4 package is OK but I would never buy another, Its been back twice for repairs under warranty & now the battery will not hold charge. Its Rubbish.

I now use a Garmin Nuvi with Garmin Australia Topo V2 and it is very impressive and lless than 1/3 of the price, After owning several brands of GPS units I'll now only ever spend my money on Garmin
AnswerID: 423831

Follow Up By: Member - Wayne B (NSW) - Monday, Jul 12, 2010 at 23:37

Monday, Jul 12, 2010 at 23:37
Speaking to the guy from Hema at a Camper show the other week.
We were discussing at length the pro and con of the Hema system

He agreed the Route 66 was not the best also that there was a batch that came from the manufacturer that was below standard and they had some problems with these.

He also said Route 66 may be dropped soon

Cheers
Wayne
0
FollowupID: 694294

Sponsored Links