GPS! What's a good 4x4 brand and Maps?

My Q is .. What is the best brand GPS to show the 4x4 tracks and/or Beaches.... my Tom Tom can NOT be upgraded to 4x4 tracks so I need to find another.
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Reply By: blue one - Saturday, Sep 10, 2011 at 15:38

Saturday, Sep 10, 2011 at 15:38
Try GPSOZ as they have a good deal on at the moment with Garmin GPS.

I got a 2460LT with 5" screen life time map upgrade for $349.

They also updated OZTOPO (4wd tracks) to the latest version for $99.

Nice people to deal with and they know their stuff.

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Gopher- Sunday, Sep 11, 2011 at 14:54

Sunday, Sep 11, 2011 at 14:54
ThankZ to all of you fellas... sure got some homework to do! :-)
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Reply By: Member Andys Adventures - Saturday, Sep 10, 2011 at 15:44

Saturday, Sep 10, 2011 at 15:44
I have the Hema HN5i has all the tracks and you can buy it from the exploreoz shop.

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Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Saturday, Sep 10, 2011 at 16:11

Saturday, Sep 10, 2011 at 16:11
Gopher,

The Hema Navigator uses OziExplorer and Hema Maps to give you a complete solution for Country Wide travel including all remote areas.
OziExplorer is the "default standard" for many of us on ExplorOz and you can download an extensive range of plot files (track data) and waypoints recorded by previous travellers and uploaded to this site. All of these are contained under the Treks heading at the top of the page.
OziExplorer enables you to record your track for any trip you do and any waypoint reference for features and locations you wish to maintain a reference to.

The Garmin range, which some people use, is also a good product but as it is "proprietary" you can not use the trek data from this site.

Many other hardware platforms such as Laptops, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA's), etc. also run OziExplorer which is a great Aussie developed and maintained product but the Hema Navigator comes complete with everything you will need.

The latest Hema Navigator (HN5i) has a better voice guided City Navigation application than the earlier model I use, but as you can't run both applications at the same time, I prefer a separate navigation device (TomTom in my case) for City and major Country Town use.



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Follow Up By: The Explorer - Saturday, Sep 10, 2011 at 16:50

Saturday, Sep 10, 2011 at 16:50
Hi

"The Garmin range, which some people use, is also a good product but as it is "proprietary" you can not use the trek data from this site. "

Not true. The default download is GPX which can be used by most gps mapping programs and a lot of GPS units directly (including many Garmin models), with no conversion..

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and even if it was in some set format (Ozi) it could be converted easiliy (generally speaking). Some Garmin units (e.g. some Nuvis) won't allow upload of tracks (in whatever format) so this is the issue, not the format available for download here or elsewhere so choose you unit wisely.

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

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Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Sunday, Sep 11, 2011 at 09:52

Sunday, Sep 11, 2011 at 09:52
Thanks Greg,

I'll accept the criticism of my "non compatability" statement.

The inability to upload track data is surely an important issue though isn't it?
Perhaps you could clarify this a little more.
Do you mean uploading track data to the GPS device, or uploading the data captured on a Garmin device to another (eg. Ozi) based device?

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Follow Up By: The Explorer - Sunday, Sep 11, 2011 at 10:29

Sunday, Sep 11, 2011 at 10:29
Hello
Yes, a unit that does not allow the uploading of previously recorded tracks would limit its usefulness for many people. As stated, I am led to believe some Garmin Nuvis have this limitation (and some don’t even record tracks). If you are in the market for a new GPS make sure it accepts the upload of tracks if it’s a capability you think you may need, don’t just assume it’s possible.

My response in the post above was initiated by your suggestion that it was not possible to use the “trek data” from this website in the “Garmin range” because they use a “proprietary” data format. My associated comments were in reference to the uploading of data available from this website to any GPS unit (even if it is a unit running OziCe).

Most of the new Garmin units actually save data (waypoints and tracks) in GPX format …which is a universal format that can be used by many units besides Garmin (e.g. Magellan, TwoNav) and many programs (e.g. Mapsourse, Basecamp, VantagePoint, OziExplorer, CompeGPS Land).

So…with respect to your last question, generally speaking it would be easy to transfer data captured on a Garmin device to another unit (even if running OziCe) because it is likely to be in GPX format (e.g. for tracks open GPX directly in OziExplorer, save as Ozi track file (*.plt) and transfer to Hema Navigator).
(OziCe actually accepts waypoints in GPX format by the way).

Even if it was in Garmin “proprietary” data format you would just need to open the file in Mapsource or Basecamp, save as GPX then open in OziExplorer etc etc. There are many gps data conversion options out there so its not an issue. The exploroz site offers data in several formats so this removes the need for conversion in most cases anyway.

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

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Reply By: equinox - Saturday, Sep 10, 2011 at 18:28

Saturday, Sep 10, 2011 at 18:28
Grab a copy of ozi for $130, a copy of Ozi CE for $170, Hema map pack (which includes Natmaps) for $179 - all available from this site.

Grab any old compatible notebook with GPS from Ebay for about $150 put all of the software etc on it.

All the features of Hema Navigator5 with enough change left over for a whole tank or so of diesel.

You could cut costs even further by just buying the Natmap series of maps, which have better maps for 4x4 tracks and beaches than Hema does.

When I upgrade my old 2007 Ipaq PDA that is what I will do (except I already have all the software) however I'll probably spend a bit more on a better Notebook.



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Follow Up By: The Explorer - Saturday, Sep 10, 2011 at 19:04

Saturday, Sep 10, 2011 at 19:04
Hi

"Grab...a copy of Ozi CE for $170"

OUCH! - OziCe is ~$35. You can download trial version of Ozi for nothing plus there is a Hema Navigator Explorer for the Hema Navigator for $0 available as well (cut down version of PC version of Ozi for HN buyers). Good option for many people I suspect.

"You could cut costs even further by just buying the Natmap series of maps, which have better maps for 4x4 tracks and beaches than Hema does."

HN comes with the 250K Natmaps though you can download them free anyway though mosaic "zone" version is the go (supplied on HN5i).

Main attraction of HN5i is plug and play which suits many (plus street nav with IGO). Lots of cheaper unit options, some with bigger screens (such as chinese units and laptop/netbook ect) but not everyones scene and many options dont come with legal software or maps. User needs to add up all costs. Time is money for some.

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

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Follow Up By: equinox - Saturday, Sep 10, 2011 at 19:18

Saturday, Sep 10, 2011 at 19:18
Hi Greg,

I realize that HN5 is plug and play - may suit some with no time to setup their own, convenience etc...I won't be buying one.

My mistake with the price of CE, so even better!!!!

So shall we set up in this niche market, and undercut Hema by a couple of hundred dollars, what do you reckon?? :))

Cheers
Alan

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Follow Up By: The Explorer - Saturday, Sep 10, 2011 at 19:44

Saturday, Sep 10, 2011 at 19:44
"My mistake with the price of CE"

Upon reflection I suspect you were probablay referring to Ozi + OziCe so your quote was actually correct ..my mistake.

"So shall we set up in this niche market, and undercut Hema by a couple of hundred dollars, what do you reckon?? :)) :

No worries, I'm in:) But suspect we ill still have to use Hema/Westprint as a starter for the average punter whatever display unit we choose which will add to cost. Maybe 250K/100k will be OK??

Can we use your phone number for questions/complaints regarding how to use Oziexplorer and unit malfuctions etc? I'm over it. More to selling a product than just selling it:):)

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

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Follow Up By: equinox - Saturday, Sep 10, 2011 at 20:06

Saturday, Sep 10, 2011 at 20:06
I'm sure you could get the maps fairly cheap in bulk under license.

My phone??? No you pay some guy in India 50 cents per question/ complaint, just give them a checklist / flowchart to work from :)


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Reply By: S.A. Blaze - Sunday, Sep 11, 2011 at 01:20

Sunday, Sep 11, 2011 at 01:20
This post has been read by the moderation team and has been moderated due to a breach of The Advertising/Self-Promotion Rule .

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Reply By: Member - Berylvt - Sunday, Sep 11, 2011 at 10:21

Sunday, Sep 11, 2011 at 10:21
If you use a laptop I expect there will be a problem with the moving hard disc if you try to operate it travelling on rough roads. Can someone tell me if it is better to go for a solid state hard drive such as eepc or iPad?
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Reply By: Member - Julio C (VIC) - Sunday, Sep 11, 2011 at 15:19

Sunday, Sep 11, 2011 at 15:19
Stay away from Hema, They make great paper maps and should leave GPS units to the people who know what they are doing like garmin, tom tom ect, ect
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