Thread: Ozi explorer off road mapping for GPS

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



Hema Flinders Ranges map (Region 4 - Great Desert Tracks ) $60


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

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

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 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...

Originally Posted by Linds

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

Originally Posted by OffTrack

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

Originally Posted by Linds

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.

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

Tablet offroad navigation - Android Honeycomb, Oziexplorer and more | 4WD Book & 4X4 News
Android Tablets for offroading - what's on the market? | 4WD Book & 4X4 News

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.



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