Thread: Hema Navigator 5

In the 4WD mag review I read that the HEMA uses the Route 66 maps. These are the same maps as on my $99 Aldi GPS and I would not recommend them. The Aldi unit can apparently also be unlocked and loaded with Ozi Explorer CE or Tom Tom, but the screen is way too small for Ozi. I tried Ozi CE on a PDA once and it was useless for off road navigation, by the time you zoomed out to see the next intersection, you couldn't make out anything on the screen.

From what I've seen of other peoples units, Garmin have been the most impressive. Another option for Ozi Explorer, is to run it on a small laptop. I use a Panasonic Toughbook. You can get the previous model (CF18) for about $600 on ebay. It features a touch screen and titanium cover, and is water / dust proof. I velcro strap it to the centre console lid of the Defender and plug in a USB GPS. The screen flips right over.

The benefit of this system is that you can upgrade it, you can load a lot more maps, you can check your email when you're in a WiFi area and you can load the RAVE CD on too. Plus it's handy for viewing photos around the camp fire at the end of each day.

Maybe a 2nd hand rugged laptop / notebook and a cheaper GPS / Reverse screen navigator would be more useful for the same outlay.

Originally Posted by Rob Bruce

Big suprise, when I took it back they were very helpfull, they said we have lots of them come back, we will have to send it back to Hema and nearly alwayse they will give you a new one, that seems good, so I hope it will be the new version

Cheers
Rob

Rob,

how did you get on with the Hema? I have just posted mine back to them for repair. it started to loose part of the map & then would not trun on at all.

Roger

Roger,
Great they replaced it with the new version, no questions asked, it took a couple of weeks but they were very good about it

Cheers
Rob