Hema HN5I vs HN6

Hi

Can’t help with any practical experience as don’t have either, and you may have already seen this but here it is anyway...comparison of specifications for HN5i and HN6



Cheers
Greg

PS Ignore prices at bottom of page as they are no longer relevevant.

Hi Allan

I can only comment on the original HN5 v the new HN6

There are a few differences between the two, some good, some OK.

Firstly the screen size does make the biggest difference and if you are looking at buying one, pay the extra and go for the 6" screen and you will not regret the purchase.

My original HN5
Screen size 5", still good.
Maps very good, complete with the original Natmap 250K of Australia, but broken up into zones due to the full version being over 8gb in size. I tried to add the one complete Natmap to the Maps folder, but being over 8gb, the unit would not read the maps.
Still very user friends and a very reliable unit for me, that I still keep for the 'just in case' situation. The biggest downside was in my opinion the Route 66, which Hema did see the light in the end and gave it the big flick.

My new HN6
The bigger screen size is great and it did take a little getting use to the new layout.
The first biggest thing that I personally do not like is that Hema have gone away from the Natmap 1:250 Map zoned areas and instead have made their own. Hema claim that is has the same detail, but I personally do not agree and have loaded the old Natmap's series of zoned maps into the new HN6 and use them instead. They now use iGo for street navigation which is fare better that the old Route 66.

I have found a few sections when for some reason, sections of road are complexly missing on their 1:250, but are in full on the Natmap series.





The new HN6 now has the ability to load saved tracks and waypoints easier compared to the old HN5, a new feature that I really like. The old way you would have to open folders, add waypoints or track and then they would be able to be used when required. The new way is just like using OziExplorer, send selected tracks and waypoints on the map direct to your HN6 and it is that easy.

Either way they are great units and are perfect for where I use mine, out in the bush.


Have a Great Christmas.



Cheers


Stephen

Hi Allan
I use the HN5i (originally a HN5 that was upgraded by Hema to an HN5i). Firstly the on road mapping is very good, easy to use and search and a big improvement on previous versions.

Most of the time though I use it for off road travel (Ozi Explorer) and use it for plotting and planning routes through the bush and then navigating along them.

I've always found it very reliable and while Ozi Explorer is fairly complex you get used to it after a while.

I would definitely go for the larger screen - especially as my eyes aren't getting any better and when you're bumping along a bush track it can be a bit hard to click on the right button!

Highly recommend the Hema Navigators - I had the original and they just keep getting better.

Brett

do you already have ozi explorer compatible maps? or can you get some of friends?
if so the cheapest option is to get a 7 inch navigator from ebay and install ozi CE onto it and the maps onto an 8 gig card (make sure you get a navigator that takes 8 gig cards, some just take 4 gig)

I recently did this so for $120 ive got a navigator that does street nav using IGO8 and off road mapping using ozi explorer and an 8 gig card for $120

Thanks for the help & info.
Have a safe Xmas / Newyear.
Cheers,