Mud Maps2 VS Hema VS Oziexplorer

[LandyAndy]

Hi Guys.
Looks like I have decided to get a Samsung GalaxyS 10.5 Tablet(its the upgraded quicker G4 version) for navigation use,plus internet etc etc etc whilst traveling.
From other threads I belive the 3 off-road Navigation apps to choose from are Mud Maps 2,Hema,Oziexplorer.Which and why would you reccomend????
I realise I need to purchase mapping to suit.
Also will be running Tom Tom as an app.This tablet can run 2 "windows" at once.Will I need to get a bluetooth GPS reciever to keep them running together????
Andrew

[synthium]

I quite like mud maps 2 but I have imported hema maps into it as well as some others. Memory maps is also good if you already have maps. But I don't have experience with any other. My brother in law reckons shonky maps (not s joke) which I think runs on garmin is the best - you can get that on the tablet.

[relatively normal]

I quite like mud maps 2 but I have imported hema maps into it as well as some others. Memory maps is also good if you already have maps. But I don't have experience with any other. My brother in law reckons shonky maps (not s joke) which I think runs on garmin is the best - you can get that on the tablet.

I have Mud maps which shows a lot of potential but im having trouble finding a decent detailed map to work with, they all seem to be on quite a large scale with no detail when zoomed in.

How did you import Hema maps into mudmaps?

[Hooroo]

FYI: I purchased Mud Map some time ago to use on my iPad. Recently Apple updated their operating system. I received an email from Mud Map saying thanks for your support (read 'money') but we will no longer support the old operating system. Buy the new version of MudMap ($100) if you want to. They offered a $25 discount as I had already bought their expensive app.
What's to stop them doing this again? Nothing. They did not even reply to my very civil email.
In conclusion, I will not be giving them any more money. I'll stick with OziExplorer which I have or HEMA if I need it.
I never thought MudMap was all that good anyway.

[LandyAndy]

I purchased the top model 4G Samsung 10.5 Galaxy TabS yesterday,a tad overkill for mapping/GPS but it will take care of internet etc whilst away from home,plus it can stream music etc into the D4,plus many other uses.MUCH cheaper than the factory GPS option.
I will be running Tom Tom on it as an app.
Still awaiting more advice on off road mapping,it seems we are down to Hema or Ozi explorer,or both.It can run a 128gb SD card so storage isnt a problem.
Awaiting more advice.
Cheers
Andrew

[stuee]

Andy, I've been researching this at the moment and was about to put up a thread myself asking for input. For me its between two contenders, Ozi Explorer and Memory Map (which is the same as Hema Explorer app - same base software). I'll be trialling both at Wilbinga next weekend but cant seem to pick one now. It seems a bit like Apple vs Android in that once you settle on one and start investing in maps etc you cant easily change over.

Firstly, with Android 4.4+ Memory Map cant store maps to the SD card, so keep that in mind with your tablet and how you store music and movies (i.e put those on a class 10 SD card):
Frequently Asked Questions :: Loading maps to SD card on Android (http://memory-map.com.au/faqs/questions/53/Loading+maps+to+SD+card+on+Android)

This doesn't affect Ozi it seems as being a third party app (i.e not through the play store) you appear to be able to choose the location your maps are stored.

I've got a bunch of pros and cons for each, I'm trying to lean towards Ozi being an Australian product but its not necessarily working out that way at the moment. The biggest gripe for me highlighted below is that its not clear if you can transfer your Android license or how many devices it is for. Its pretty clear with Memory Map you get 2 PC's and 2 mobile devices and they can change. With memory map this means when I change my old 10 inch tablet out for a new one I don't need to fork out an additional $25 and I can run it on my phone (or wife's tablet) as a backup.

OziExplorer Pros:
- Can put maps anywhere on device
- Programs available make it easy to rip google maps (satellite view) directly to OziExplorer format.
- Aussie made
- More functionality around tracks, waypoints etc.
- Useful apps about for converting large size jpeg or tiff map files to smaller OZF files.
- Wider file support

OziExplorer Cons:
- Buying maps more involved, need to buy DVD's or go to third part websites to download.
- Base cost is $25USD for android app and $109USD for PC version
- Cant find information on android licensing transfer (i.e. if I change device do I need to pay another $25)
- Android interface not quite as simple.
- Need to go out and buy DVD for 25k WA topo maps

Memory Map Pros:
- Easy to get maps through map store
- Base cost $50USD (so I can import my own maps)
- Licensing system transparent (generally a 2PC plus 2 android setup with ability to change devices easily
- More map support appearing and able to download immediately as well as speculation more will be going with Memory Map due to encrypted maps leading to less copyright theft.
- Hema updating Memory Maps more often than the DVD Ozi Explorer versions.
- Android interface simpler
- Get hema base 250k map which is quite good.
- Can get 25k WA topo maps very easily.
- Maps seem cheaper overall.

Memory Map Cons:
- Maps only download as you scroll through unless you download the files directly and move them into the appropriate folders:
Index of /mapchunks (http://www.memory-map.com.au/mapchunks/)
- Maps restricted to phone storage (need to make sure I always get the 32GB devices now).
- Requires 3 calibration points in order to give co-ordinates on map.
- More steps to rip google maps though it is possible (and involves using trial version of Ozi Explorer to add calibration points)
- Far less functionality in android app compared to Ozi (but does 99% of what I want anyway)


Neither application has a good pc to mobile device interface yet. You need to manually copy maps, tracks, way points etc across manually.

Logically I'm leaning towards Memory Map as it looks to be developing faster (might bring the last bit of functionality I want down the track), and does pretty much what I want now at a lower cost, but I'm happy to be swayed the other way. If MM's map support was wider and conversion function more straight forward I probably would have bought it already. If there was an online shop with and equivalent range of maps at similar prices for download OziExplorer would probably have it right now. Ill probably be purchasing one or the other after next weekend when I try both out.

If anyone disagrees with above pros and cons let me know and I can change them.

[stuee]

I got my Bluetooth GPS and ram mounts in the mail on Monday so gave both programs a run on the way to and from work yesterday. In the car I have to say that OziExplorer has the edge. I've put some of my experiences below.

When changing between maps Ozi gave you nice big text lines to press instead of selecting some small text in a tight list.

Another benefit was better zoom options, memory map wouldn't let me zoom out enough from my detailed maps so I would have to change map to get out further, this actually really annoyed me.

Memory maps ability to automatically change between maps when you zoomed in and out was sometimes useful and other times a pain so it was easier to leave off. Using your fingers to zoom out on memory map also wasn't as nice as it should be, if you accidentally moved the map as you put your fingers on the screen any zoom change you made would revert once the map stopped moving.

I favored the icons on the screen for zooming in both applications and OziExplorers way of representing axillary data like compass heading and speed etc was nicer and took up less screen real estate than Memory Map. Looking online last night I found that both apps can be customized but the main difference for memory map is that you need to pull down a page from the top of the screen that then reduces map size. Ozi simply places the information over the top of the map in a nice side bar.

In terms of tracks I don't like how memory Map works. It starts a new track after you've been stopped for a while or after a certain distance. This would annoy me if I was on a big trip as I would want a single continuous track for the trip, not a new one for every day. You also get no say on how often it records your position and you have to wait till your track has started before you can enter the line size and colour. OziExplorer had a clear advantage in this area.

I'm still going to run both over the weekend but in the car to work Ozi is the app I'd want to run.

[stuee]

I also got this response from Ozi Explorer over licensing.


>1. Does the $25 license cover only one android device?

We do supply additional licenses for other devices you own.

>2. Can Android licenses be transferred to another Android device at a
>later date (for example if I purchase a new tablet) and how is this
>achieved? My concern around this is if a tablet breaks on holiday can I
>easily use my wife's tablet to run a licensed version of OziExplorer
>instead.

As above.So basically you can get more than one license but its still an email process to get it sorted. The good thing is that I had a response to my question within a day.

I have to say my choice is leaning more towards OziExplorer now.

[carlschmid2002]

FYI: I purchased Mud Map some time ago to use on my iPad. Recently Apple updated their operating system. I received an email from Mud Map saying thanks for your support (read 'money') but we will no longer support the old operating system. Buy the new version of MudMap ($100) if you want to. They offered a $25 discount as I had already bought their expensive app.
What's to stop them doing this again? Nothing. They did not even reply to my very civil email.
In conclusion, I will not be giving them any more money. I'll stick with OziExplorer which I have or HEMA if I need it.
I never thought MudMap was all that good anyway.

The same thing happened to me. I purchased Mudmaps very early on and paid over $200 for it from memory. Not happy at all. They won't get another cent from me.
On the other hand I can speak highly enough of Tom Tom for on road use. I paid a one off fee. I think it was only about $80 and free updates and I run it on three devices. I think they are always the most up to date as well.

[stuee]

Final post for me in this thread. I took out the tablet over the weekend to Wilbinga but only got to try OziExplorer. I was going to try Memory Map on the return trip but my power supply setup was woefully inadequate and with the missus being at the helm of the tablet it wasn't noticed until too late.

I have the equivalent of this outlet on a dual plug setup along with a standard 12V plug:
Products (http://www.narva.com.au/products/detail/15099/noheaders/1/?KeepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=500&width=720&modal=true&parent=power-accessories-popup-layout)

I believe the 2.5amps is split across the two sockets i.e. 1.25 amps each as the tablet didn't maintain charge and while being switched of on the return journey only recovered by 5ish%. The normal charger is a 2.1A jobby so I thought the Narva socket would have covered me. I'll use my BlueSea 12v socket adaptor next time.

Back on topic and Ozi did everything I wanted it too while being simple enough for the wife to use. I did find though that while tracks were far more configurable in terms of data points etc I couldn't figure out how to start a new track. There's lots of info around the CE version and how to do this but not the android, by default you get one track file per day. Its easy enough to join tracks in the PC version but still an annoying problem to me.

I've attached a screen shot of the trip to the camp site for the sand tracks. I was quite impressed how good the google map rip was.

I'll be sticking to OziExplorer from now on and will fork out the money when planning the next trip.

[ted44]

I did the simpson and a few others last August with Hema 4x4 maps and the Hema explorer, the Hema 4x4 was invaluable where as the explorer was a pain unless you knew where you were going before and downloaded a section of desert that you wanted information on, the Hema 4x4 is the ducks nuts as far as I'm concerned. Hope this helps.

[winaje]

FYI: I purchased Mud Map some time ago to use on my iPad. Recently Apple updated their operating system. I received an email from Mud Map saying thanks for your support (read 'money') but we will no longer support the old operating system. Buy the new version of MudMap ($100) if you want to. They offered a $25 discount as I had already bought their expensive app.
What's to stop them doing this again? Nothing. They did not even reply to my very civil email.
In conclusion, I will not be giving them any more money. I'll stick with OziExplorer which I have or HEMA if I need it.
I never thought MudMap was all that good anyway.

You're quite a prophet, as they have basically abandoned MM2 and are pushing MM3. They've also abandoned TheMap. I'm damned if I'll give them any more money. Unfortunately I have bought the whole of Vic in 1:25k, so am into the app for probably $150.

Is there an alternative that provides maps as good as MM, but from a developer that has some ethics and doesn't screw their users?

[carlschmid2002]

You're quite a prophet, as they have basically abandoned MM2 and are pushing MM3. They've also abandoned TheMap. I'm damned if I'll give them any more money. Unfortunately I have bought the whole of Vic in 1:25k, so am into the app for probably $150.

Is there an alternative that provides maps as good as MM, but from a developer that has some ethics and doesn't screw their users?

They won't be getting another cent of my money.

[ozscott]

I've been very happy with Memory Map on my IPad (and on my Samsung phones). Cheers

[AK83]

....

Is there an alternative that provides maps as good as MM, but from a developer that has some ethics and doesn't screw their users?

As already said about OziExplorer, you can use whatever map you like as long as you can make it compatible via the appropriate software.

Ozi for Android can be used standalone, but is so much better when used with the desktop software.
(didn't realise that the desktop software is so expensive now tho!)

OziExplorer (for desktop) has the ability to use the Open Street Map map system, but only in realtime(ie. whilst online), and there is no OSM maps available(that I can find) that can be converted to an image format to suit Ozi in any way.
So far I've had to klutz around using screen captures of OSM map areas, and convert to jpg, to then convert to ozfx4 and so on .. ie. a lot of mucking about to get not very far.

I am slowly working on making usable maps for OziAndroid from OSM maps.

For Ozi, a map that is highly recommended is the Hema 4WD maps product that comes on DVD(can be bought from the Ozi website).
The 150K seamless map is one of the best for exploring any part of the country.

The one major 'Pro' about Ozi For Android that stuee missed out on in his summary, is the ability to configure the screens to your liking. And if you can't figure out a workable screen for Ozi(for Android) then you would have to be impossible to please.
So add the Android screen designer software as another 'Pro' to stuee's list.

The Android screen designer runs on a Windows PC and allows you to completely reconfigure the screen layout to show more or hide more features. I think it allows up to 10 different screens(I generally use 4 or 5 main ones, and a few other's for trivial info).
Why this is important is that with newer model tables coming to market with higher resolution screens, you can eke out a lot more area for any given map. It's nice to have nice, large, fat finger capable touch buttons to play with, but in standard guise they waste too much map space.

Another downside to Ozi, is trying to get any mapping of the bulk of central Aus at lower than about 100K resolution.

Personally I don't trust Google's satellite maps, as they can be massively outdated too, giving a false sense of security to the viewer thinking they're seeing the real thing.
I prefer to know that my old map is 20years old, and can be outdated .. rather than thinking that the view from the sky is the real thing .. only to get there and find the track doesn't exist like it used too 5 years ago!

I know this thread is an old, but if anyone needs(only legit) maps for OziExplorer PM me and I can help.

The other point missing in stuee's Pro/Con list for Ozi, is simply the hidden cost of maps you will almost certainly want for it.
There are many free(as in freely available as well as free $s) maps you can get yourselves, but the really good maps cost. IIRC Hema 4WD DVD cost close to $200-ish.
Festy's old map collection is free tho(or at least it was).
The other map product worth considering for Ozi is the ExplorOZ map product. Note just the map and not the software to use it. I don't have it(preferred the Hema) but once a bit more $s come my way I may just get it to have that too.

The Cons for Ozi (for me) are kind'a insignificant .. ie. of low importance!
My only gripe with Ozi for Android is that it's become unstable beyond v1.25. (that is I use v1.25 still).
If I load any version beyond that(I think v1.27 and 1.28) it shuts down after a randomly selected time. There is no rhyme or reason. I thought it may have to do with screen lighting timeout, but that feature operated the other way around.
That is Ozi kept the screen active whilst it was running. I downloaded a program to keep the screen alive, and found that Ozi still shut down, but now the screen stayed active.
No replies from Des or the Ozi team as to what's going on with this.

The reason I'd like to update to later than v1.25 is that beyond that, it has the ability to set a look-ahead value, so that more of the map is visible in the direction of travel and less behind. Great feature when you're (still)exploring whilst moving.
They had this ability in the old Android CE version .. I missed it in the Android version.

[RANDLOVER]

You're quite a prophet, as they have basically abandoned MM2 and are pushing MM3. They've also abandoned TheMap. I'm damned if I'll give them any more money. Unfortunately I have bought the whole of Vic in 1:25k, so am into the app for probably $150.

Is there an alternative that provides maps as good as MM, but from a developer that has some ethics and doesn't screw their users?

I hope Hema isn't doing the same thing as I downloaded the updates for my HN7 cost $75, but noticed they only go up to 2018, I hope they are not trying to push people down the new HX-1 path.

[RANDLOVER]

I nearly plumped for the HX-1 as a couple of weeks ago on the way up to Blackbutt my Hema HN7 stopped working, but after diving the car a few days I noticed it complaining of low battery so I thought I'd be up for a new battery, but then I decided to try using the original charger instead of the 2-1 I had been using, and it is working nicely once again.

[OldGuy]

I have been using OziExplorer for quite some time now, I purchased the original beta s/w when it was $25 aus. As others have said you can use various maps, my main ones being Hema and Natmap.

As for licensing I have transferred it to several devices over the years and used my same password with no issues, this may have changed over time so if someone cares to try it would be keen to hear back out of curiosity. I downloaded the s/w to my phone, was handy when bushwalking.

Regards
Geoff

[austastar]

Hi,
I had to contact Ozi to use it on a new tablet. The Password is some how tied to the serial number of the tablet.
I provided the details of the new and old tablet and was provided with a new password,
Cheers

[OldGuy]

Hi,
I had to contact Ozi to use it on a new tablet. The Password is some how tied to the serial number of the tablet.
I provided the details of the new and old tablet and was provided with a new password,
Cheers

So it has been changed, there you go. You wonder why as I am guessing there was no fee involved?

Regards

[AK83]

..... As others have said you can use various maps, my main ones being Hema and Natmap.

....

Which versions of Hema and Natmap are you using?
If you want some good Victorian maps for Ozi, I can highly recommend GetLost's maps.

Back in the really early days, a group of us came across some freely downloadable 25K Vic Firemaps that were legal to use(just not distribute).
Problem was they were all individual sheets, so in Ozi(moving map) there was the issue of map boundary(as opposed to sheet boundary) ..
We all edited the maps so that boundaries were at the map extents rather than edges of sheet.
Made moving maps a lot more usable.
These maps were pretty much the bees knees for 4WDing too.
That I know of, HEMA don't have high resolution maps for Ozi(maybe 150K) which is fine for touring main places, but not enough track details on the whole.
This is what the old Firemaps gave.
I ended up turning the 1000+ Firemaps into two sheets to cover East Vic and West Vic myself(took forever).

Anyhow, I had what I kind'a needed, and as I found old/new detail, Ozi allows you to edit maps as you require too.
The hard part was finding new detailed maps that don't cost the earth.
This is where GetLost comes in.

Have a look for them, if you want super high(for 4WDing) detail in Vic, these are the best so far(I've seen) for Ozi.
GetLost also has some other states if required.

Note that the the entire state is a huge download too. eg. Vic East and Vic West are a tad over 8Gb download.
I now run Ozi on an oldish Lenovo M10 .. not huge specced tablet, but these 8Gb OZF4s run fine for panning and scanning.

Very highly recommended for Ozi if you don't already have them. (if you do get them, go for the East/West sheets, not the individual maps).

NatMaps don't change all that much over the years(if you are referring to the 250K series).

[OldGuy]

My Hema maps are around 2011/2013 vintage, apart from the 250K I have several others covering specific areas the cape york maps are quite good.

I have used the CFA maps for Vic and being older do show tracks that are no longer there, I have been caught out on this a couple of times. I have another set of maps a mate gave to me and I don't know who they belong to suffice to say they are better than the CFA maps however they are individual tiles and I have not bothered to knit them together.

Apart from the Hema and Natmap (I don't use Natmap that often any more) I have some Rooftop, Outback Vic, Westprint and High country Vic Maps, they all have their individual benefits.

I guess the message here is when deciding on a mapping application, from my experience there are a vast number of map providers that can be used on Ozi (and I know how to drive it). A couple of years ago I plotted and mapped a route to a place called Dragon Tree Soak, for some reason it appears on most maps in WA a little green rectangle between Sandfire Roadhouse and Broome but further east. There are no tracks at all and without OziExplorer it would have been a significant challenge. Was hard enough as it was, but that is another story.

Regards
Geoff

[AK83]

....

I have used the CFA maps for Vic and being older do show tracks that are no longer there, I have been caught out on this a couple of times ......

[thumbsupbig]
That's half the fun.
I use some Openmap data via OSMAnd. I don't like the cartoony look of these vector maps, but still usable. I've found a few tracks in the Mt Dissapointment area not yet marked, or wrongly marked too.
I think been updated since .. so it's always a works in progress with maps.

Those GetLost maps I referred will be familiar to you if you like the Firemaps, and they don't show every gate and farm track like Firemaps do. A bit more updated too ..

While it's easy to edit in a new track, it's very hard to edit out a non-existent track .. basically not really worth the effort.

Also note:
While the GetLost East/West maps are nice, I just had a look and the west map is perfectly usable, but their current East map is missing a huge chunk of map around the Wonthaggi area, so not worth downloading it(yet).

[austastar]

Hi,
On our trip last year, I decided to just use Hema on the Tablet. I also subscribed to the extra detail maps for 12 months (on line, but downloadable if needed off line).
It did everything I wanted, with the occasional use of OziExplorer (when I had maps of the location), Oztoppo and ofcourse Google Maps.
Hema would, at times, stop running when it flagged the Tablet overheating. Loss of breadcrumb trail was the only issue, but 5 minutes or so in the a.c. stream would allow it to be restarted.
I have recently bought a Garmin Navigator RV 770 with the full Oztoppo maps and Hema maps on a micro ssd. Still early days on the learning curve, but I'm thinking freeing up the Tablet by using the Garmin will be easier. Although not in the documentation, I can get breadcrumb tracks and routes off the unit without Basecamp, and into other mapping programs. It also does screen shots.
I might do a "how to" if there is any interest.
Cheers

[RANDLOVER]

Hi,
On our trip last year, I decided to just use Hema on the Tablet. I also subscribed to the extra detail maps for 12 months (on line, but downloadable if needed off line).
It did everything I wanted, with the occasional use of OziExplorer (when I had maps of the location), Oztoppo and ofcourse Google Maps.
Hema would, at times, stop running when it flagged the Tablet overheating. Loss of breadcrumb trail was the only issue, ...........................

Cheers

Does anyone know how to leave a breadcrumb trail on a HEMA HN7 from what I've seen on the HEMA site it only seems to be possible on a HX-1?

Also on the subject of breadcrumbs, I have seen the trail move a few hundred metres off from actual in bad weather, that was on my car's inbuilt Eclipse AVN-6000, so not sure if it can happen on other units, so watch out.

[austastar]

......have seen the trail move a few hundred metres off from actual in bad weather, that was on my car's inbuilt Eclipse AVN-6000....
Hi,
Rain on the vehicle or wet trees overhead can soak up the gps signal. More so with the earlier chip sets rather the more modern versions.
Cheers