HEMA Navigator

[Disco2]

Thinking of buying a HEMA Navigator for an RRP of $990.00 at the moment.

Don't

There is a new model coming out in December.

Black in colour with a 5 inch screen rather than the current 4.3 inch screen

How do I know this? (and I'm usually the last to know)

Well I recently purchased one, and was rather surprised to find out that after I fully charged the unit and put it away in it's case that the internal battery was flat 2-3 days later.

Nothing in the accompanying literature gave any indication of how long that should be.

So, today I phoned the company only to be told that 2-3 days was the expected 'hold charge' time and that the new model is 'completely different' and is to be released in December.

Well said I "Would HEMA be replacing the internal battery, under warranty, with something more efficient".

"No"

Apparently they have been having problems with the current manufacturer and they know about it, so the new model is being maunfactured by someone else.

Who that is I have no idea.

BUT seeing as the HEMA unit is powered by VMS and the VMS branded street navigation unit is powered by 'whereIS', I'll bet London to a brick that the current HEMA Route66 street navigation system gets the flick and the new HEMA street navigation system is powered by something else.

Route66 (as a street navigation system) by the way is not the sharpest knife in the drawer but it does the job.

Not as good as a TOM TOM mind you but acceptable.

I used to own one of those but my daughter seemd to think that it looked better in her car.

You don't argue with daughters.

What do I do about the problem I asked of the HEMA representative?.

'Sell it on E-Bay and Santa will bring you a new unit for Christmas', was the advice given

I didn't ask any more obvious questions as I'm still Gobsmacked.

But I hope that this infomation can assist others.

To be fair, the unit does everything that it's advertised to do. The maps work and considering that I purchased it for the topographic 4wd maps-they are fine.

Now that I understand the issues, I can work with that.

HEMA's phone number is 07 33400000 and they are open from 9.00am Monday

Cheers

Richard

[Rosscoe68]

better yet, get a garmin for $350 ish and the Hema maps for $220 ish and away you go :)

[Disco2]

Yeah agreed, but you can currently get a HEMA Navigator from 'Johnny Appleseed' for $699 and with free delivery.

I'm not into mucking around with dashboard mounted gizzmos.

I want them to work straight out of the box.

Mucking around with computers is for young blokes.

Old farts like me understand things mechanical, not computers.

LOL

[Rosscoe68]

you misunderstood me ?
go to a shop, buy a garmin gps. while you are there, buy the hema map card that goes into gps and go use it. no magic setup, just put the sd card into gps as you would a sd card into camera and you are done :)

garmin have just released the hema map chip for there range of gps. :)

[Disco2]

Thanks for the Info.

I should have asked you first

Anyway I got the HEMA now and that's that

Just goes to prove (some) old farts and computer technology don't mix

[Rosscoe68]

no worries
the hema is a nice big screen and a good unit at that anyhow.
i was just surprised and impressed recently that garmin are now distributing their maps.

[disco_thrasher]

i owned a hema and gave it away due to the degree almost needed to use it!!!!!!!!!!!:confused: now i have vms touring and it is awesome easy and more user freindly the 4x4 topo maps are easier to create tracks and record thats my 2 cents................


many of my friends have the hema and use it fine i think it depends on the user ,as for the battery life of yours that does not sound right ;)

[Disco2]

i owned a hema and gave it away due to the degree almost needed to use it!!!!!!!!!!!:confused: now i have vms touring and it is awesome easy and more user freindly the 4x4 topo maps are easier to create tracks and record thats my 2 cents................


many of my friends have the hema and use it fine i think it depends on the user ,as for the battery life of yours that does not sound right ;)

Yeah I agree about the stored battery life. It does not sound right to me.

That's why I phoned HEMA.

From memory (and don't quote me), the Tom Tom held its charge for about two weeks when stored and not in use

As for requiring a Degree to operate the HEMA thing, I agree.

A 119 page Route 66 user guide (that I had to download myself) was rather a shock. But I've got my head around it now - I think.

I recall seeing smaller papers on more complex subjects at Uni.

The VMS unit looks a lot better.

Anyhow I'll perservere with it or do as I'm advised and sell the thing on eBay.

I still cannot get over that advice from the HEMA rep. Way to go guys , really gives me the impression that they are there for the long haul on model number 1 - Not

[disco_thrasher]

there is nothing more that sh%ts me than bad after service specially when you work hard and save up for these extras,

try go higher than just the rep specially for that comment and make sure the powers above know that rep said that:o