Ozi explorer off road mapping for GPS

[edddo]

Hi

There are many options for GPS hardware, software and mapping. There seem to be affordable units using ozi explorer mapping. What are peoples experiences with this mapping for off road use? Is it up there with Hema and others?

thanks

[bicubic]

I haven't used Ozi yet but found myself going back to Shonky maps (free) on a Garmin. I'm yet to use a track that hasn't been plotted on the Shonky. I've driven some in the desert that you can't even see but are plotted on the Shonky and connect correctly as detailed. Details, boundary's and points marked are fantastic. I think Shonky maps can be uploaded to various devices and make a solid back-up to anything purchased. I actually find it a much better mapping system, certainly better than anything Garmin charge for (somehow I have all of these for testing :angel: ). Your only problem is that you can't get automated directions from it.

However, Garmin have made it a nightmare to load free maps without a previous map purchase (but there is a workaround) and I imagine other devices will be operating on a similar wavelength.

The shonky maps can save you good bucks and I think it's a very good source of off-road information. My preference in fact. :)

[OffTrack]

Hi

There are many options for GPS hardware, software and mapping. There seem to be affordable units using ozi explorer mapping. What are peoples experiences with this mapping for off road use? Is it up there with Hema and others?

thanks

The Hema navigation devices run OziExplorer with a customised user interface . Functionally they are the same program.

Ultimately it depends on which maps you want to run.

The Hema maps are available for both Ozi-Explorer and Memory-Map. Memory Map has the advantage of allowing you to purchase the Hema maps for specific regions, rather than the entire DVD. Memory Map also seems to offer free updates to the Hema maps far earlier than the DVD containing the updated ozi-explorer maps is released. The 2012 Hema maps were available for Memory-Map in December 2011, whereas the Ozi Explorer DVD didn't hit the shops until well into 2012 - May or June from memory. I believe to update with OziExplorer you need to purchase the current release DVD.

That said my favourite maps for most uses in Victoria - the SpatialVision VicMap DVD - is only available in OziExplorer format at present, so I've ended up running Ozi and MemoryMap depending on what maps I want to use.

The mapping is the most costly part of the package by a long shot, so it is worth doing some research into that aspect first.

cheers
Paul

[loanrangie]

Maps for Ozi can generally be found for free and now that Ozi works on android there are lots of options for hardware.

[THE BOOGER]

I run ozi ce on my gps easy to use maps were free from a friend :D

[OffTrack]

loanrangie,

Do you mean free as in "legal", or free in "as long as you don't get busted"?

I can understand not wanting to pay for maps, but on the other hand you can understand why map makers are moving away from OziExplorer to other mapping platforms which allow them to securely sell their products without fear of having the maps pirated.

And just discovered my favourite maps have dropped OziExplorer and gone across to iPad. Too good.

[edddo]

To make an informed decision I have to know what I want the GPS to do. Then I need to find out what units will do it and at what cost. This isnt easy for me as Im not that IT savvy.

What I want;

has to be big enough to see ie 7 inch
needs to be well mounted - prefer windscreen as it is out of the way
needs to talk to my PC for trip planning and down/up loading of waypoints etc
software needs to be easily upgradable
mapping to be easily accessible
ability to use different sources and maybe formats of mapping
needs to be of some quality as I dont like crap

secondary to all that is that if it can double as a e reader and internet access then that would be nice..but not the priorities

Do people know if this unit ticks many of these boxes?

7" GPS OZI EXPLORER OFF ROAD TOPOGRAPHICAL + LATEST ROAD MAPPING AU+NZ | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/7-GPS-OZI-EXPLORER-OFF-ROAD-TOPOGRAPHICAL-LATEST-ROAD-MAPPING-AU-NZ-/221147164864?pt=AU_Electronics_GPS&hash=item337d65f0c0)

Thanks for any help on this.

L

PS: I have asked these questions to the seller and awaiting their response

[THE BOOGER]

It looks to be the latest version of the one i have and it ticks all your boxes bar the internet access box. Mine runs igo8 and win ce i have ozi ce for off road with the nat maps but only nsw so far had mine for 4 maybe 5 years and no problems that the manual couldnt fix:)

PS: I did change the windscreen mount, off road the original bounced to much $25.00 at the markets got a good solid one the new ones may be better

[isuzutoo-eh]

I used Ozi on a Win CE GPS unit, now I use Androzic on an Android phone and tablet.
On both systems I used free maps from http://maps.festy.org/
They are proper topo maps same as you'd buy from the map shop.

[OffTrack]

To make an informed decision I have to know what I want the GPS to do. Then I need to find out what units will do it and at what cost. This isnt easy for me as Im not that IT savy.

What I'm suggesting is that you look at what kind of driving you do and plan to do because that will influence what maps you buy. Map availability goes a long way to determining the app or apps you buy.

No single app is going to be perfect, but one might be a better fit for your needs.

Given your criteria I'd seriously suggest you look at a GPS equipped 7-8" tablet rather than a dedicated GPS.

[OffTrack]

They are proper topo maps same as you'd buy from the map shop.

Perhaps that is the case for NSW, but the Festy Vic mapping is pretty average, and is getting on for 7 years old.

I picked a random section of Victoria - well not entirely random I had trouble getting through this area during floods a couple of years ago - and cropped the mapping to cover a similar section just to demonstrate how different the coverage really is.

First up Festy.org mapping (Ozi) - Free
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/11/359.jpg

VicMap Topo 25K (Memory-Map) - $99 for 2 x mobile device, $150 2 mobile + 2 desktop, $199 for DVD.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/11/360.jpg


SpatialVision VicMapBook imagery 50K/100K (Ozi) $149.00 DVD Only.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/11/361.jpg


GA AusTopo 250K (Ozi and Memory-Map) Free//Cheap
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/11/362.jpg

Hema Victorian State Map (Ozi and Memory-Map) On DVD for Ozi $179, or Part of Region 1 download for Memory Map - $60 for 2 x mobile and 2 x pc.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/11/363.jpg

One of the hallmarks of usable GPS mapping is the ability to see the information you need at a zoom level that gives you reasonable coverage.

cheers
Paul

[OffTrack]

A second example of what you get for your money.

This is a section of the Gammon Ranges NP in SA.

AusTopo 250K - Free/Cheap
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/11/357.jpg


Hema Flinders Ranges map (Region 4 - Great Desert Tracks ) $60
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/11/358.jpg

Note the Track between Balcanoona Gorge to Grindell's Hut. There is no indication on the AusTopo 250K that this is a walking track only.

FWIW the pic in my sig is taken on the track into Grindell's Hut.

cheers
Paul

[isuzutoo-eh]

Thanks for the map comparo. I haven't used the Vic maps yet but the NSW 1:25k maps work well in my opinion.

[edddo]

Thanks OFFTRACK
I know what type of driving I will be doing...Vic Alps, Upper Murray high country, northern and central Australian touring ie Gulf/Cape, Simpson etc. Why do you think a tablet would be best for me?

cheers

Lindsay

[isuzutoo-eh]

I found with a smart phone the screen was too small to show enough map in enough detail, my 4.7" GPS, although bigger than the phone, wasn't much better. Now the 10" tablet has scads of room for detail and forward planning. It doubles as a lot of other things too as a tablet PC should...

[OffTrack]

Thanks OFFTRACK
I know what type of driving I will be doing...Vic Alps, Upper Murray high country, northern and central Australian touring ie Gulf/Cape, Simpson etc. Why do you think a tablet would be best for me?

cheers

Lindsay

I just think you'll find it easier to keep mapping and apps up to date. Most of the Chinese GPS units don't come with legal copies of the turn by turn GPS apps like iGo so you need to spend time chasing up dates on forums and the like. It's a PITA when all you really want to do is a simple update.

The Ui will also be miles better than anything that runs on WinCE.

The other advantage is you get your internet connectivity and e-reader capability. It's an all round better deal.

I'd avoid a 10" tablet if you want to windscreen mount - they are just too big!

The Hema maps would be pretty good for what you want to do.

Cheers
Paul

[edddo]

I just think you'll find it easier to keep mapping and apps up to date. Most of the Chinese GPS units don't come with legal copies of the turn by turn GPS apps like iGo so you need to spend time chasing up dates on forums and the like. It's a PITA when all you really want to do is a simple update.

The Ui will also be miles better than anything that runs on WinCE.

The other advantage is you get your internet connectivity and e-reader capability. It's an all round better deal.

I'd avoid a 10" tablet if you want to windscreen mount - they are just too big!

The Hema maps would be pretty good for what you want to do.

Cheers
Paul

Thanks for your advice OffTrack much appreciated. So if I were to look for a tablet where would I start? Firstly I need
***a good windscreen mounting system
***7 or 8 inch screen
***car charger

What OS is preferable?
What processor speed is acceptable for this application?
Android or other?

I will have look about and post anything of interest in here - I know Im not the only one on this path.

Thx for all the input/advice so far.

L

[inside]

So if I were to look for a tablet where would I start?
Hard to go past the Nexus 7. A lot of bang for the buck.

[OffTrack]

Worth taking a look at Robert Peppers coverage of Android tablets.

Tablet offroad navigation - Android Honeycomb, Oziexplorer and more | 4WD Book & 4X4 News (http://www.4wdhandbook.com/content/Android-tablet-offroad-navigation-4X4)
Android Tablets for offroading - what's on the market? | 4WD Book & 4X4 News (http://www.4wdhandbook.com/rmp/blog/android-tablets-offroad-market-scan)

I'm a professional Mac geek so can't really comment on which specs are necessary on Android.

If you wanted to go for an iPad the Mini wifi/cellular would really be the only choice. All the iPad versions of the gps apps will happily run on a Gen 1 iPad so will be fine on any of the more recent devices.

I think for you planned travels either Memory-Map or Ozi would be fine, although if you went with an iPad Ozi is no longer an option.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

I'd started doing this chart the other day but got way-laid trying to convert the Spatial Vision maps to MemoryMap format. It's not complete and by no means exhaustive.

cheers
Paul

[Bushie]

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=53791&stc=1&d=1354014095

cheers
Paul

What is the chart meant to show ?
Are you saying NSW Topo are not able to be used in Ozi ?
Which would be incorrect, hence I'm unsure of how I am meant to be interpreting the chart.


Martyn

[OffTrack]

What is the chart meant to show ?
Are you saying NSW Topo are not able to be used in Ozi ?
Which would be incorrect, hence I'm unsure of how I am meant to be interpreting the chart.


Martyn

Hi Martyn,

The chart is a summary of the commercial and reasonably uptodate map packages available for each platform. I've spent quite a bit of time scearching for these packages on the web sites of a number of the Australian mapping vendors.

I am aware of the Festy maps but these are based on map imagery from 2005/2006 which is starting to get fairly old. Even in the brief look I had at the Nadgee sheet, there are some minor problems with the mapping. On this particular sheet there is a strip of mapping that is duplicated twice for example.

The Memory-Map topo imagery is a 2012 release of updated mapping produced by NSW department of lands. If you can let me know of an official release of the NSW topo mapping that has been published in the last 3-4 years in Ozi Explorer format please let me know and I will update my chart accordingly.

Cheers
Paul

[OffTrack]

I finally located the source for NSW topo maps from Dept of LPI, NSW. This is around $275 and contains mapping imagery from 2006.

I've found it is also possible to purchase TasMap raster images at 1:25,000 in .tif format which can be converted for use in OziExplorer. It's a tad pricey however: $1100.

cheers
Paul