Ozieplorer / Trackranger on notebook v purpose built GPS ?

[Allfour4x4 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Allfour4x4]

Hi all, hope this makes sense....but,
Can anyone tell me how well Ozi or TR stack up against your average GPS shop unit?
ie: for street work in particular can the above mapping software do as good a job as the other navigation OS (IGo etc.)? or are they really only suitable as an extension of these for custom mapping of tracks.

I'm thinking of using either a notebook with touch screen and running one of the above...or maybe standard notebook plugged into a dash mount unit. Reasoning for the notebook at all is for photo storage, web/email etc. so one way or the other I think it should be part of my system?
Any ideas?

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Ozieplorer or Trackranger v purpose biult GPS ?

There seem to be two types of GPS applications availble to users:

1. Street Navigation. This is for people who are not familir with streets and works very well within a single city. They are ordinary when used for traveling between cities/towns. These are nearly always vector images so can provide a virtual 3d view of where you are going. You would have options such as Find and Navigate to a location (auto routing), points of interest, speed zones and fixed speed camera locations. The availabe maps are tageted and cities and towns and the major and minor gazetted roads but will not show all tracks such as on private property or remote areas. Map detail may include major buildings and structures as well as parks, shopping centres, public phones, toilets, etc... If a track is available in a remotish area (eg Birdsville Track) then no exterior detail will be available. Maps are updated frquently to include new roads and streets or changes to expecially so for within cities.

2. Topographical Navigation. This is more like the traditional paper maps with an arrow or marker showing current position. A track tail is generated and you can use waypoints and basic routes. Very very few topographical systems will provide auto routing. The maps are usualy a raster based image (such as a scanned paper map but quite often better quality than a scan) but some systems will also support vector images. Map compaines produce maps available for use covering most of Australia in different scale levels like the original paper maps. The maps will usually provide a much better view (overhead only) of the surrounding area and will usually include the majority of tracks including private tracks and remote tracks. Topographical Navigation tools are king in remote areas such as CSR, Simpson, Kimberly, etc... Maps may not be updated as frequently as Street Navigation maps.

So to categories what applications fit into each navigation system (not a complete list but paints the picture):

• Topographical Navigation - OziExplorer, Track Ranger, Memory Map[/*:m:5w0xhj2b]
• Street Navigation - Garmin, Navman, TomTom, iGo, Route66, PolNav[/*:m:5w0xhj2b]

My GPS runs both OziExplorer and iGo. I rearly use iGo and always have OziExplorer running even when in a city. I tend to know my way around pretty well, even when I go interstate. It's not too hard to find your way and who needs an American voice telling you to take the next left.

[Allfour4x4 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Allfour4x4]

Re: Ozieplorer / Trackranger on notebook v purpose built GPS ?

Thanks
So using say Ozi with UBD maps....to navigate to say, a city street, you'd have to look up the street name then prepare a track file to get you there? where as using something like iGo will just guide me there?
Sorry for the dumb questions but still trying to work what to eventually buy or not buy.

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Ozieplorer / Trackranger on notebook v purpose built GPS ?

Thanks
So using say Ozi with UBD maps....to navigate to say, a city street, you'd have to look up the street name then prepare a track file to get you there? where as using something like iGo will just guide me there?
Sorry for the dumb questions but still trying to work what to eventually buy or not buy.

More or less. I don't have UBD maps in Ozi but I have Google maps and open Street Maps in Ozi that I downloaded using Mobile Atlas Creator and Noni Maps. I don't create a track file as I can usually find my own way around but I also have iGo for that just in case moment but rarley use it.

[FlyNdrive Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyNdrive]

Re: Ozieplorer / Trackranger on notebook v purpose built GPS ?

Does the App. Store have the HEMA App. 'down there'?

It's an interface for the scanned maps of the US. They have a road atlas overview maps and download topo maps.

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Ozieplorer / Trackranger on notebook v purpose built GPS ?

Using a notebook in the car is going to be a pain. The main problem is the size and mounting method/location. Second problem is managing the cables and extra devices. Yes you can get a bluetooth GPS antenna but that is another thing to manage. Third problem is the hassle in keeping/hiding the notebook everytime you park the car and setting it up again.

Better off getting an in-dash unit or a standalone GPS unit that runs on the WinCE platform.

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Ozieplorer / Trackranger on notebook v purpose built GPS ?

Does the App. Store have the HEMA App. 'down there'?

It's an interface for the scanned maps of the US. They have a road atlas overview maps and download topo maps.

Yeah you can and then run on iPad. I think there is a special on at the moment through 4wd action to get about $50 off regular price. I think this price is until about May 5th from iTunes. Not sure if you need a code but saw it in the latest magazine.