GPS what have you got - do you like it.........?

bigcol

Well-Known Member
Nov 22, 2012
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Swan Valley Perth
was talking with my sister today about GPS's and Navigation
when the penny dropped - my Navmole is a S50 - which I brought new in 2006/7
so may be time to upgrade to a decent unit
have been told VMS or Hema are the way to go


whats your thoughts / feeling
what do you have.......
do you like it........
is it easy to use.........
is it worth the money paid for it............
 

Pauly

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Aug 25, 2013
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I have the hn7 ( previously had the hn5)
Loved em both off-road but the new 150k mapping update is fantastic to have at your fingertips.
image.jpeg
Sure it's no topo map but more maps can be added if needed. I like to have detailed paper maps to see the "bigger picture". But while on the move they rarely make an appearance any more. On road navigation is ok but can be stubborn to reroute , trying to bully you into getting back on the original path if you don't take a turn. I thought it sucked with the hn5 and seldomly used it for on road it has improved dramatically with the hn7 however.
Very simple to operate. I only really use the basic options, I probably should explore more of the features.....
I use it as a screen for the rear camera also .
If for some reason it got lost or broken I would buy another in a heart beat.
 

Bushman

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Also have the Hema 7 the females in my house hold got together and got it for me for Christmas 14, mostly have used the street navigation which did screw me over when in Melbourne picking up the van but that was more to do with some settings but at the time ended up resorting to the old fashioned way.
It does have a habit of sending you in some weird and wonderful ways at times. Have load the updates to Camps 8 and Caravan Parks so pretty good for that, is also load with a lot of crap you don't use.
 
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JS4910

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Sep 21, 2016
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I now have the Hema HN7, and in my opinion it's great for everything I do and doesn't require a physics degree to setup like some of the cheaper home built custom setups, I have a fair computer knowledge but the thought of having to root around with all the stuff involved to build one wasn't worth the money I would save, but that's just my opinion.
I used to have the VMS Touring 430, actually had two of them, first one was replaced out of warranty as they couldn't get the battery replacement working despite 3 attempts so they caved and sent me a full replacement (nice) but unfortunately it only lasted 18 months before it succumbed to failure, just locks up on the front splash screen. Anyone wants it they can have it!
I got the HN7 with extra east coast 100K maps and sunvisor for the same price I paid for the VMS 430 in 2010, so overall very happy with the new unit for the price and abilities.
Only downsize is the windscreen real estate it takes up, but I can live with that.

Cheers Glen.
 
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yabbietol

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Bought a Hema HN7 a few months ago, wish we had got it sooner the 150K map is great especially good in the country driving between destinations, it displays upcoming rest areas and is really useful when travelling and you just want a quick stop or know which road is ahead. The 150K scale is also good in national parks as it displays most roads and campgrounds.

The city GPS only comes with 2 years of free updates which is poor compared to Garmin's lifetime free updates. Also if you want updates you need to have access to a Windows PC and also need Windows to load Ozexplorer maps, this is a big disadvantage for us as we only use Apple hardware and software and have no other need for Windows software. Though Hema will do updates for a fee at their business, it is a real shame you cannot update via Apple software as our Garmin does.The city GPS is similar to our Garmin which it replaced and is useful around places like Sydney, but once out of town we mostly use the 4WD 150K map.

We got ours from Mapworld and included the sun screen which is really essential if you put it up on the dash fixed to the windscreen. The 100k topo map option is also really good, for when you want more detail. In our (mine and the navigators) opinion 100K is not as good as the 150K for driving along between stops, but great once you get there and want to do day trips, etc. One trap for new users is that the Camps 8 option only works on the city GPS and is not accessible in the 4WD map mode.

A very useful feature is that the HN7 come preloaded with the entire Hema map collection, these maps are great. We have used the paper version for years and in when you are in an area covered by the special Hema maps it is worth changing the display from the 150K or 100K to look at the Hema map. These special Hema maps alone are almost a reason for getting the HN7.

https://www.mapworld.com.au/products/hema-navigator-hn7-free-sunvisor?variant=3566142785
On special at the moment with all of Australian 100K maps at $629 is cheaper than we paid.

Overall the HN7 is great for travelling in 4WD mode and the city GPS works OK. There are a few issues, but are minor compared to how useful it is when you are in the bush.

Regards
Terry
PS If you mount it on the Windscreen we found vibration can be a problem on dirt roads, a bit of foam stuck under the HN7 screen and the HN7 screen resting on the foam on the dash gets rid of a lot of the vibration and makes it much more readable.
 

bigcol

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Nov 22, 2012
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good stuff guys these are the sort of feedback that makes this forum excellent

the only other GPS I have used was the one that was fitted to the Cruiser when we brought it - VDO Dayton - it had a stupid mirror mount....... was not greatly impressed by it so it was removed
the screen was about 2' square in your mirror, hopeless
 
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JS4910

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yabbietol

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Just reread my post above and realised I should have made one point a bit clearer.
When you turn on the HN7 you have a screen which gives you two options, one icon is the city type GPS which includes Camp 8 listings and the other is labelled 4WD. They are like two seperate GPS quite different in their display and info content.
The 4WD GPS option is the main reason for spending the extra dollars, the other GPS mode is really similar most other GPS, but it does include the Camp 8 listings. However, we added the Camp 7 listings for a few $ to our old Garmin GPS and it did included free lifetime map upgrades (It is now in the navigators Subaru).
Hope this makes it clearer.
Regards
Terry
 
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achjimmy

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The HN7 is great. It's due for replacement so that's why the price is getting better. Re the 150k maps yes they are great for detail and designed with being digital in mind are clearer in a navigator . But they do not have all the tracks on them that the older 250k maps had! So if you can get both your better off. Also the PC softwAre is great for planning it's a lite version of ozi explorer. I have all the 25k NSW and Vic raster maps as well. And some rooftop maps of the VHC that I got scanned from paper maps and formatted into ozi format to use on the HN7 . I also like running it whilst touring on the hwys as the 2d maps show you the lay of the land and the the road so you can judge overtaking etc. it's a great bit of gear, I don't use the onroad part.

Keep in mind the VMS is now silly cheap through 4wd supercentre but I don't think it's as good as the Hema. You don't have the camps unless you use the road part. But then I have the camps on the cruisers GPS so no issue for us.
 

achjimmy

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For the east coast Hema users that want the 25k raster maps. They are approx $100 for NSW or VIC. They are the later edition that are easier to read on the navigator. If you don't mind the earlier versions that pretty much have the same detail just not contrasted as well search around they used to be hosted online by "feisty " and we're a free download :cheer2: I don't have the link any longer. You will also need a larger sd card than the supplied 8gb.
 

achjimmy

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Navman S50 yep many were hacked. I still have one can't kill em yes the screen is a tad small but it'll work.
 
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