4WD App vs Explorer App - Hema Review Pt2/2

[@AUNZAnon]

Great review thanks. The only thing you forgot to mention was that the Pro version of Hema Explorer $59 is an annual subscription, not a one off cost.

[@michaelzammit3150]

Just want to say what a great teacher you are. I have looked at a load of previous videos about the hema cloud and device and got very confused. You explain things very clearly and its understandable. Looking forward to watching more of the same. Thanks again.

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Cheers mate - got a few more techs & tips videos in the pipeline.....hope you benefit & enjoy them just as much.

[@stevep1530]

Thanks Graham very detailed comparison. More people need to watch this.I did have a hema hx1 and it was very frustrating to use, that's why I watched your review to see what else is out there.

[@hiltonhunter1]

Well done mate. Very informative and to the point.

[@Phil_McAvity]

Good video Graham. I definitely prefer the $99 app on my iPad than the HX1. I’m waiting on Hemas next unit release hoping they’ve learned the pros & cons from their previous units to make a superior Hema GPS. I did actually call them a few months back and they had no idea if and when a new Hema GPS would be available, they couldn’t even say a year 2021, 22, 23..... which I thought was a little disappointing.

[@whateveryoulike7629]

great review - straight to the point no BS. thanks.

[@great_offroad_adventures]

My pleasure 👍🏻 - make sure you subscribe as we will be looking at more trip planning and navigating soon.

[@mappatrolusa2455]

Great insights. Thanks Graham.

[@nigelmaxwell5751]

Thanks for this vid, just found i needed this information yesterday and was caught short. (i.e. lost) Will certainly get the Explorer app.

[@M8YM8]

Thanks mate that was really helpful. Why the hell did they make the crappier app more expensive?

[@brianwhite5969]

I have the 4WD app and have used it for many years. It cost $80 using ITunes gift cards on special and has been updated for free numerous times. Regarding you comment about the lack of detail. The area in the map used as an example has another more detailed map on my iPad that is the same as the explorer app. It is the Hema south west corner map. Cheers Brian

[@lugsatronic]

I got Explorer a few years ago for $29 when it went on special, used to use a garmin gps in a ram mount but now I pretty much only use Explorer, it's well worth the money. Thanks for showing the 4x4 app, I've been intrigued about whether it was worth having both.

[@terrynewman8783]

very informative good video, keep em coming

[@grantkerr2971]

Well explained thank you Graham.

[@allwheelinoz4707]

Totally agree with you on the Hema 4WD App, expected a bit more for my 99 bucks 😭

[@blakegalley9916]

Bloody great comparison, thank you.

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Our pleasure

[@nvb21]

Useful review. Thanks a lot.

[@krump7429]

Mate, these 2 videos were up there with some of you and your wifes best work. Not to say ur trip vidz are no good, but this video was fantastic. Clear concise and easy to follow instructions. The camera work was awesome to capture the details, and your honesty and thoughts on all the products was great. My question is, will the hx-1 be getting an upgrade from hema soon. I know they churned out the hn5 hn6 and hn7 in quick succession a few years ago.

[@metinhalil574]

Appreciate the great content Graham, great job mate 👍

[@MudducksTouringAustralia]

Thought thats where you were going to end up after my comment last video. I have the explorer app and the 4wd maps app just need to make better use of them. Stay safe. Cheers Steve

[@mrjackt-4wdtouringinwester769]

Great review Graham. 10 months later, Hema has withdrawn the "Hema Explorer" App from sale. The last update prior to this withdrawal was so atrociously bad that reviewers were complaining that the app store wouldn't allow zero star ratings. Very disappointing as Hema Explorer is an app I had loved using since its very first release. After this review, the Hema "4WD Maps" app, at $99 is a disappointing alternative not worth the money. There is now a "4x4 Explorer" App that I hope is an improved replacement for Hema Explorer. It's price is the same as the now withdrawn app.

[@markbez64]

Was about the post the same. The "update" to hema explorer completely broke the app. And dont bother contacting support, you get a canned response "technology that the explorer app was built on can no longer be updated to meet the requirements of the major app stores. As a result, we will no longer be offering the Explorer App for sale." But no offer to migrate to another supported app.

[@mrjackt-4wdtouringinwester769]

@@markbez64 I got exactly the same wording in a response from Tim Moorton at Hema. "requirements of the app stores" is a complete furphy. They're just trying to force a loyal customer base into buying more apps that are inferior to the excellent one they (perhaps deliberately) broke. Unless Hema learns really fast, they're going to lose a lot of once loyal customers. The VMS unit from 4wd Supacentre is looking more appealing every day.

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Yeah I’ve heard this being an issue....I believe they are trying to push us over to the new 4x4 Explorer app. I’ll have to get it and check how it goes.

[@markbez64]

@@great_offroad_adventures If you do end up getting it, would be awesome to see a similar review. Have seen mixed responses from people who have come from the once great Explorer app. I'm not that keen to drop any more money on any Hema apps after the poor support experience.

[@jamestaylor9258]

The explorer app is available in the USA for 39.95, but you are all saying it is broken and not to buy it?? It says released on Sept 2020.

[@overlandphotography]

Tks Graham. That helped me a lot

[@StuartBridge]

Thanks for the review Graham - I've been looking at the Explorer app for the iPad so good timing. The app store reviews are shocking but good to get a perspective from someone who's been using it for a while. Cost it seems the app is $49 to purchase and then a $49 yearly subscription for the pro version. Enjoying the channel - great content!

[@blackers10]

They have made incremental improvements to the app which is good but obviously isn’t shown in the reviews. The other issue is people who have no idea how to use an ipad buy the app and don’t take the time to nut it out like more tech savvy people are. The explorer app without the subscription has been great to just get to locations off the main roads out in south west QLD like cattle stations that don’t have roads on google or UBD map books haha,.

[@dannyg9948]

Hi is the app called Hema explorer on the play store?

[@d23adventures83]

@@dannyg9948 yes

[@johndowdy4366]

Good information, thanks

[@kimwindsurfercoastalservic4122]

Hi Graham, thanks to both of you guys for your video's and this review. I looked at the old Hema Product but figured it wouldn't be long before an app appeared. So now that it has I looked at some other reviews on it and it's getting a right caning from everyone who wrote in, re failing to load properly, won't expand, weigh points are clumsy, crashes , whole sections of maps have been deleted from this version, and more. A common theme from the reviews was that the support is seemingly non existent when these people have called to ask about it. One guy wrote he has been in weekly contact with Hema about the app, they just kept saying "A fix is on the way", he finally pinned someone down and they said "No fix is coming any time soon". So are you finding anything like the comments above since your review. Being older adventurer ( alright Grey Nomad, I get it) I'm a bit nervous getting out somewhere and not being able to rely on what seems to be a product with let's say a few bugs still to worked out.

[@great_offroad_adventures]

How old were the reviews, because when I checked prior to the video, they were all 6-10mths old & like I said in my video, it had & still does perform faultlessly for me & I feel the reviews are unfair.....all that being said, they have just released a new Explorer app, which is now vector mapping instead of raster mapping......I'll share my thoughts on it soon, once I've gotten more familiar with it.

[@kimwindsurfercoastalservic4122]

@@great_offroad_adventures Great thanks Graham, I’ll look forward to it.

[@craigashwood5580]

Excellent review. You've helped me make my mind up. Now to find a good mount for the iPad!!!!

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Check out RAM mounts, everything is possible & your pretty much only limited by your imagination.

[@craigashwood5580]

@@great_offroad_adventures Thanks!!!!

[@PaulMotu]

After posting my comment last night about Memory Map ... your issue with removing the Waypoints individually ONE by ONE is the same in MM and it is a pain in that App as well. So perhaps a fair criticism to therefore make against my preferred travelling map app as well.

[@lockl9255]

Great review - you just convinced me to buy paper maps instead.

[@aaronc5775]

G'day Graham Are interested in a demo night? I just bought the app etc and would like to get the most out of it. I have been used to a chart plotter Garmin but it just lacks details Cheers

[@IBLOWN]

Yeah cheers Gra Gra

[@blackers10]

I emailed Hema when I first got my IPad Pro as the Explorer app wasn’t displaying properly. They said they are working on a new app which should be good. No idea on release timeframe. They did do an update in the mean time to get the app working correctly on the ipad pros which is great. I use it for work as a police officer in South West QLD we don’t have much reception around the small towns and need to know where we are to get to cattle and sheep stations which can be hidden away down a winding dirt road. When you have nothing but a sat phone and a dodgy CODAN radio haha

[@TheCoddiwompleCouple]

Thanks Graham, great advice.

[@johnomeara-xl2jf]

Ah just watch your clip on the hema explore I have used a very early one and it worked good for me But I have brought membership with hema and downloaded maps but as I am not computer savvy am finding it very hard. Would you be interested in doing some coaching as I live in swan view I am will to pay you to get started thanks for the clip regards john Omeara

[@sydneymowerandautomotivece4319]

Hey Graham, thanks was helpful. With the trip planning, can you adjust it to take some off-road tracks and not just main roads ? Thanks Gavin PS how the engine ?

[@louiskudlak2256]

Great video graham 👍👍👍 iPad mini 4 me with the upgrades

[@overlandingand4WD]

Great vid Graham - wish I saw this before dropping $$ on the 4WD app and some MemoryMap topos, but based on your content I reckon its worth forking out again for the Explorer app.

[@ericchilver9113]

Very helpful, a lot of information..Is the Hema Explorer an annual subscription. The $100 full function is a great price point. My IPad is 32 gig 8th generation Should I go for more internal storage, I’m thinking with map downloads 32gig won’t be enough. 👍🇦🇺 thanks Graham

[@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen]

We are still playing around with the Australia Topo App but it is a big learning curve as there are virtually no instructions. It seems to be about the only app around that gives satellite view offline and if the developer put a bit more work into getting a bit more functionality built in to it, I think it would be one of the best off road mapping tools. The HEMA Explorer looks pretty useful but again, no sat view.

[@brunobruno5763]

how do you convert your google earth file to ozi exploer file that hema hx1 can read thanks Graham

[@great_offroad_adventures]

GPS Babel is the free software I use. Save your folder of waypoints and tracks as a KML file, open GPS Babel select first file type as Google Keyhole Markup Language (KML) then find your KML file, then select your output file type (OziExplorer) and select your output destination - it will create a .wpt file of waypoints & a .plt file for the tracks. You need OziExplorer for a HN7, the HX1 should accept .gpx file types which you can upload direct to the Hema cloud, of note you can also upload KML files straight to the Hema cloud.

[@brunobruno5763]

thanks Graham

[@derekandrew3121]

Hi Graham I cant seem to find this particular the Explorer App , has it been upgraded could you let me know cheers Derek

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Sadly Hema have updated it and no longer support this old one…..the new one is a step backwards in my experience. I’ve found Gaia and it has a near identical look and feel to it’s operation to the old Hema app and so far so good, it’s been faultless for me.

[@_YnWa_87]

Hi mate. Which navigation app is the best with carplay feature

[@dannyg9948]

Is the prefered app called, Hema explorer on the app store??

[@stephenashley3546]

damm ! Wish I had found this 2 days ago!! Just load the 4x4 App thinking that was the one to go for !! :(

[@aussiedrifter]

G'day Graham & Jess, Great video Mate very interesting etc, But Im probably out side your viewers age & modern applications prowess, basically an old fart so we stick to our Paper maps, Compass & distance (when required) although I do have an Ozi Explorer GPS for playing with when bored Mate. Safe Travels to you both, Stevo.

[@ozzyplinkster8841]

Great vid, will you still be looking at doing a vid on how to create routes in Google Earth and the how to transfer them to explore

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Yeah we will - got a few other videos coming first though.

[@tomrollings4233]

Hi have you looked at oziexplorer Or Exploreoz

[@shanestaff6307]

What about memory maps exploreroz is a rip off says $59 one off fee then when you buy it to get all maps gotta monthly fee

[@kensbikestuff]

Hi Graham. Awesome video on the Hema maps series. Just a quick question. Would the Hema explore App be the best choice on an iPhone on my motorbike. Also the Hema app doesn't do turn by turn voice prompts. Am i right in saying you transfer the Hema map to google maps and it does turn by turn prompts, (if you have them downloaded). Cheers Ken

[@stephennewall2986]

Why are there so many one star reviews on the Explorer app I wonder

[@chrisscott5332]

Great breakdown 👍any idea what the Alpine X902D has built in? Is ‘OziExplorer’ the same as the software the iPad is running.

[@great_offroad_adventures]

No - Oziexplorer will be similar to the HN7 as that is the background software installed on that device.

[@chrisscott5332]

Great Off-Road Adventures - Graham Reinders cheers mate.

[@islandacres4646]

Great vid Graham, The Explorer App you refer to is that the 4x4 Explorer by Hema Maps on the app store @ $50 ?

[@islandacres4646]

very new to the 4wd map stuff

[@johnpolt2383]

Great video, I'm very new to this, will this applications work if you off line (out of range)?

[@johnpolt2383]

Sorry I should listen to the end.

[@dannyg9948]

Awesome review, very well done. Wondering if I download this app will these maps automatically come up? Can they be shared with other users? Getting lost out Brunswick yesterday got me here.. Good to see your from southwest too.. Thanks

[@darylcheetham753]

Thanks Graham for the great advice! I need to buy a tablet to get started with Hema explorer. Do you find an 8" tablet adequate for the task and any advantage (or disadvantage choosing a 10" screen? 10" perhaps a little too big for the dash and may upset the guys in blue....?

[@seffy1510]

Hi Graham, great video and info. Just wondering in the App Store there is Hema Explorer and Hema 4wd explorer. Do you know if they are the same. If not which one do you use. Cheers

[@great_offroad_adventures]

They are different - I’ll be reviewing the new one shortly, once I’m more familiar with it. 4WD Explorer uses the new vector based maps, Hema Explorer uses the old raster maps.

[@rjl110919581]

THANK YOU FOR SHARE GREAT DETAIL VIDEO BY SHARE GREAT DETAIL FOR LOOK OUT BEFORE BUY

[@ricknelson2930]

Hey Graham, great honest video mate, love your work. One question with the 'routing' option this is as close as it gets to turn by turn off road, is this still available with the new version of explorer?

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Yeah in my experience it’s as close as you can get.....I’m not 100% familiar with the new Hema 4x4 Explorer App yet....so I can’t say if it’s possible in the new one or not.

[@sawyerlife1020]

Any reason you still use the 1:150 maps when you've got the upgraded subscription that will let you go to 1:10?

[@great_offroad_adventures]

It’s the same map it’s just that the upgrade allows you to zoom into 1:9000

[@sawyerlife1020]

@@great_offroad_adventures oh okay. Cheers

[@stuartpilling6190]

Is the Hema explorer app transferable between multiple devices per subscription? I would rather use it on my phone in the car, a Suzuki grand vitara, as room is at a premium on my dash. But I would like to use it on a tablet when at the camp site?

[@great_offroad_adventures]

If your phone and tablet use the same OS then yes you can purchase it once and have it on multiple devices (under the same account). Hope that makes sense.

[@stuartpilling6190]

Yep. That makes perfect sense. I have Zwift, Which I can use on multiple devices on the same account.

[@gregcummins2529]

Great video Graham. To what degree does the Explorer app (or Pro version) differ from the 4 X 4 version in terms of off road map availability and the ability to explore areas more off the beaten track. We are heading into Arnhem land in a few weeks time and expect to do some off road travel. Will the Explorer version still help with navigating in these areas? Thanks

[@RedRevillation]

Great vid, thank you. Comments on App Store give terrible reviews for Hema Explorer. Seems to be crashing issues with iPad?? What’s your recent experience with use in WA?

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Since that review all the trip videos I’ve done, I’ve solely used the iPad with explorer & it hasn’t crashed once, it’s worked flawlessly in fact. Just got back from 2.5 weeks and it was used everyday for multiple hours each day....again, zero issues.

[@TheDharshanar]

Can you connect a bluetooth GPS and run the explorer app?

[@AForRealGamer]

What map are you using? I have this issue where the map is very poorly detailed but when I use hema cloud its absolutely unreal, i compared mine to some of the areas you searched and it's not even close.

[@davidhardenberg5382]

Are you talking about the Hema Explorer app or 4x4 Explorer? I’m new, and still tying to get my head around the different apps.

[@great_offroad_adventures]

4x4 Explorer has only recently been released....I’m still getting familiar with it. In the video I compared the original explorer app, sadly it looks like support for that platform will drop off, I’ve noticed maps missing from the online cloud recently. I think the new 4x4 explorer will be the better app, it used a vector based map vs the older raster style maps, so detail will be greater, but file size smaller....also easier to update with changes etc Watch this space, I’ll do something on it soon.

[@davidhardenberg5382]

Thanks for the reply. I just downloaded the $99 app and it’s not easy. Even setting up an account, the fact that you had to set up with memory maps first. No step by step guidance. I’ll definitely download the 4x4 explorer and give it a go. Thanks for the advice and look forward to your next review.

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Yeah the $99 4WD Maps app, I’m not a fan of, I think I covered that in the video....very clunky to use & also dated.

[@matthewharvey5735]

Hi Graham, thanks for the video. Hema now have 2 explorer apps. 4x4 Explorer and Hema Explorer. I assume 4x4 Explorer is better?

[@great_offroad_adventures]

They just released a new one using vector maps instead of raster maps, I’ll share my thoughts on it once I’m more familiar with it

[@matthewharvey5735]

@@great_offroad_adventures No worries, thanks

[@mbedsor]

Thanks for the video. I've been wanting to drop the money on the explorer app for a long time. Will definitely do it now. Just wish I hadn't wasted my money on a VMS

[@rayzor3463]

Is there an annual or monthly subscription fee with the apps or any other costs once you’ve bought them?

[@waynewoods3398]

Graham, can the app be used on multiple devices. I'm traveling on a motorbike and mounting an I pad isn't viable so use my phone (android Samsung) but is quite often to small to plot trips and then use a iPad and or computer to plot trips..thanks in advance

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Yes - I purchased Hema explorer on my iPad & have free access to it on my phone (iPhone).....no issues at all.

[@bjp107]

Great videos Graham, thanks. How do you mount your iPad in your car to use as a nav? Given they don't like heat, the dash is not ideal.

[@neilyasminda1654]

Hey mate, you can use a floor mounted cradle which connects to your vehicle seat rail.

[@bjp107]

@@neilyasminda1654 Thanks mate - in the six months since I asked this question and had no reply from the author I eventually found RAM mounts and got exactly what you suggested. Cheers.

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Sorry mate - we get inundated with comments & from time to time I miss some.....I covered my ram mount solution in the walk around video I did of the car. But yeah - running a ram mount off the passenger seat.

[@Dorko85]

Do you know you can record the screen on iPad or iPhone; this way the user can actually see the screen. We do it for work, or if you have dual devices iOS v Android we use a app called Reflector 3; allows you to mirror the screen straight to the laptop. Works magic for demos like this.

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Yeah I know - but I couldn’t with the other Hema HX1 & HN7 & I needed to be able to sync the audio easily so that it lined up. Which is why I did it this way.

[@TheRomeara]

Another great video.I have the HX1 and find it lags.Going to give the explorer app a go.What cradle/mount do you recommend for the i pad mini ?

[@great_offroad_adventures]

I’m using RAM tab-tite seat mount - will have more on it in coming videos.

[@chadsmith5630]

Hi Graham, not sure if you 200 series has the compatable factory headunit. But I have found a company online in Australia called Advanced ICE (www.advancedice.com.au). They are not cheap by all means, but being that most newish 4wd's do come with large touch screens this is an option if your not on a budget. I am saving up to get it for my 2018 Ford Ranger Wildtrak as this setup is compatable with the ford sync 3 unit. You go back to using a memory card, but its true Hema Maps and is inbuilt into your headunit. No extra devices floating around on your dash. Check it out if your interested and let me know your opinion. Cheers Chad

[@michaelavdalis4382]

There's the hema exploer app 49 bucks and there's heama 4wd maps app 99 bucks what's the difference and which one do u recommend

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Watch the video & find out - I explained it all!!!

[@chrisstevens2663]

I have the hems 4WD app and I don’t use it doesn’t display local tracks I’m in Coffs at the moment travelling oz and google maps I find better , is it worth spending the $49 on explorer app rather than google maps

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Ultimately everybody is going to use their apps slightly differently & for slightly different purposes, if you’ve found something your happy with then stick with it....for me, it would depend how long I was venturing away from the mobile network for etc if I wanted info/ features that Google couldn’t provide like interactive POI’s, difficulty rating on tracks, etc etc

[@michaelavdalis4382]

So which heama app do u recommend the exploer app ? And how much is it ?

[@justwingit1633]

Can u download HX1 to the iPad ??

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Yeah it’s called Hema Explorer - they operate very very similarly. The HX1 is a physical device, Explorer is the app you can download, both constructed & operate the same way.

[@justwingit1633]

Thanks mate 🤙🏼

[@bigjeffwa]

I liked the video review, well done but I just went to look at buying Hema Explorer for $49.99 and the reviews are terrible a rating of 1.6 ? What’s going on ?

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Yeah I’m aware the App Store is deceiving like that....it’s why I did these videos, because I was in the same position, found some mates who & borrowed there devices to have a play & quickly found contrary to the App Store that Hema Explorer is the best one, hence me doing the videos to help explain & show why.

[@bigjeff3988]

ok thanks Graham

[@craiggilpin1201]

Hey Graham, does it matter if the explorer app is Apple or Android?

[@great_offroad_adventures]

I’m not 100% sure, I wouldn’t have thought it matters.....few of my mates run it on Androids without issues.

[@fritz_vee]

A couple of things to note, the Android explorer app isn't as updated as the iPad version, last update in 2016 so you don't get point to point navigation it will default to google maps. Also to download the offline maps is incredibly clunky with the Android version(only one I have experience with) and normally takes several attempts to restart the download and have them installed, I have tried this on at least 6 devices and it's always an issue. One other thing, I thought the extra $50 maps pack was a subscription so you needed to pay each year? Could be wrong but either way the default maps are very good. Does anyone have experience with the new camperx app from hema???

[@citygonebad619]

Hi Graham, the Explorer app no longer Syncs and is superseded. Have you tried the new 4x4 Explorer app?

[@simoncook4225]

Ahh that must be the issue I'm having.........:/

[@danielgray74]

Android Explorer app has really bad reviews, can you compare the Android and ipad app

[@johnpolt2383]

Hi,

[@jamesh7395]

Great review, thank you

[@officialWWM]

“Which one” not “what one”!

[@82muli]

tbh both seem somewhat useless out the box and require you to fork out extra coin for maps and tracking trips on the other so price wise both arent far off $150

[@MADBONE0]

Two apps in the iOS App Store .. worst idea hema

[@johnpolt2383]

Hi will explorer

[@johnpolt2383]

Sorry press send to quick will explorer show attractions in area you are eg places which is good to visit not so much petrol water which I know will

[@soobz]

Hema explorer, app not updated in 4 years, and judging by the vast number of 1* reviews support is non-existent. There's better out there and better supported.

[@snaggas6910]

whoops i bought the 4wd map instead of explorer before watching this video

[@great_offroad_adventures]

🤦🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️

[@clintrobey3765]

Yeah IPad all the way

[@markbergman2342]

I tend to draw gpx with 'ridewithgps.com', I tend to view all my gpx files in Gaia (online and on iPad when stationairy or as backup). I tend to use Osmand app (on my iPad) to navigate along my tracks. (paid version, for all my needs on offline maps) For GPS dongle the Garmin Glo II is a strong and nice GPS device.