HEMA Explorer North America

[Airmapper]

Sorry, been out on a trip the last 2 weeks. So here is a screenshot of my screen on Hema Cloud.

Set the layer to a US map and it should fill in the screen with mapping.

While there is now a US/ AUS toggle, apparently they didn't think it would be important to default to a US map layer when toggled to the US. Really bolsters my faith in HEMA let me tell you.

 

[jwatts]

Set the layer to a US map and it should fill in the screen with mapping.

While there is now a US/ AUS toggle, apparently they didn't think it would be important to default to a US map layer when toggled to the US. Really bolsters my faith in HEMA let me tell you.

WOW, okay. Well I feel stupid for not checking something as simple as to activate a map layer but its very weird that it does not default onto the US Hema Roadmap layer. Okay so now half of my issues are fixed, now if I can just get all my devices to sync! Thanks Airmapper!

 

[andrew32]

Am i going nuts or can you not enter in coordinates to drop a waypoint on the cloud??

 

[paranoid56]

are you able to have two tiles showing at once? it looked to work for a bit then the screen just kept flashing lol.
still playing with this but getting weird results when out in the desert.

 

[shane4x4]

When you're working in offline mode it's best to leave just one layer enabled. If you have multiple layers enabled with no service, the system can get confused on which one to show you. Hope this helps

 

[Corey]

New to this thread as I had recently bought Back Country Navigator for my Android HTC One phone, and also my new NVIDIA Shield 8" tablet (Wi-Fi) only.
I take it with both the Hema North America and the Gaia apps you have to download areas outside of your current coverage when you fire up the app?

For instance I drove into work yesterday with my tablet mounted, and when I got about two blocks from my home I had only white squares.
I am mainly interested in getting the whole town of Greenwater, WA and its surrounding area of forest service roads onto the device so I can use it off line.
I take it with both Gaia and Hema you have to download sections to the device first too?

On Back Country Navigator you do not have a choice I do not think to do your whole state, what about Hema/Gaia?
I have a 64 GB card in the tablet, I hope that is big enough for topo forest service road maps, not interested in city maps, as my Pioneer stereo is preloaded for the entire USA for city driving, and even shows some off road stuff, but not really meant for making waypoints and tracks like these off road apps are.

 

[1Louder]

New to this thread as I had recently bought Back Country Navigator for my Android HTC One phone, and also my new NVIDIA Shield 8" tablet (Wi-Fi) only.
I take it with both the Hema North America and the Gaia apps you have to download areas outside of your current coverage when you fire up the app?

For instance I drove into work yesterday with my tablet mounted, and when I got about two blocks from my home I had only white squares.
I am mainly interested in getting the whole town of Greenwater, WA and its surrounding area of forest service roads onto the device so I can use it off line.
I take it with both Gaia and Hema you have to download sections to the device first too?

On Back Country Navigator you do not have a choice I do not think to do your whole state, what about Hema/Gaia?
I have a 64 GB card in the tablet, I hope that is big enough for topo forest service road maps, not interested in city maps, as my Pioneer stereo is preloaded for the entire USA for city driving, and even shows some off road stuff, but not really meant for making waypoints and tracks like these off road apps are.

Yes, if you want maps offline you have to pre-download them. Very easy to do in either Gaia or Hema.

 

[Corey]

Yes, if you want maps offline you have to pre-download them. Very easy to do in either Gaia or Hema.

Thanks, not sure which app to go with, as from what I read Gaia may have more features enabled?
They are both the same price, just under $20.

 

[MountainBiker]

I own both Hema NA and Gaia. I bought the Hema app based on the hype created in the overland community by Overland Journal, and Expedition Portal. Some of this "hype" was about the app and hardware available in Australia, and the Apple app. It all sounded so good, and it was on my list of things to get, so when I heard at Overland Exp West that it was available in North America for Android, I bought it immediately.

At this point, I no longer use Hema NA on my android device. Gaia is so much better at this point in time for actual use when using it offline. The two key points for me are:
- offline maps, Hema can only use the device internal storage, while Gaia can use an SD card. Isn't the point of overlanding to get away from people and cellular signal? If you agree, Hema misses the mark, as most devices don't have enough internal storage to download enough map tiles for just 3 days of overlanding.
- The "Gaia Topo" map is far superior to any of the maps available in Hema. The Gaia Topo map scales better as you zoom in and out, making it possible to read the text (road and place names.)

If I could return the Hema app for even a partial refund, I would do so. I don't intend to use it again with it's current feature set.

My feedback applies to using both apps in Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah, on an Android Samsung Galaxy S5.

 

[mjohns2]

I own both Hema NA and Gaia. I bought the Hema app based on the hype created in the overland community by Overland Journal, and Expedition Portal. Some of this "hype" was about the app and hardware available in Australia, and the Apple app. It all sounded so good, and it was on my list of things to get, so when I heard at Overland Exp West that it was available in North America for Android, I bought it immediately.

At this point, I no longer use Hema NA on my android device. Gaia is so much better at this point in time for actual use when using it offline. The two key points for me are:
- offline maps, Hema can only use the device internal storage, while Gaia can use an SD card. Isn't the point of overlanding to get away from people and cellular signal? If you agree, Hema misses the mark, as most devices don't have enough internal storage to download enough map tiles for just 3 days of overlanding.
- The "Gaia Topo" map is far superior to any of the maps available in Hema. The Gaia Topo map scales better as you zoom in and out, making it possible to read the text (road and place names.)

If I could return the Hema app for even a partial refund, I would do so. I don't intend to use it again with it's current feature set.

My feedback applies to using both apps in Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah, on an Android Samsung Galaxy S5.

I concur on just about everything, but change Android Samsung Galaxy S5 to iPhone and iPad. I'm really impressed with the Gaia application and their support team, they even responded to me on Saturday which completely caught me off guard.

MJ

 

[1Louder]

My vote is obvious. Gaia!

 

[Corey]

Thanks guy's, there did seem to be lots of hype about Hema.
I am going to be going with Gaia this weekend on my phone and new tablet.
Seems Hema is not quite done yet, and maybe should not have been released until completely done.

 

[Corey]

PS, looked up Gaia on the PC here at work, then took my phone outside to get a good signal, and installed it.
Payment will be on my phone bill.
Came back inside work, refreshed the Google Play Store on my PC here, and it said it was installed on my phone.
There is a drop down list, and my NVIDIA tablet was in it, so I hit install, and it is being installed automatically at home onto the tablet.
Tech is cool

Will give it a try here at work today later on to see how I like it.
Kind of use to Back Country Navigator, I hope Gaia is worth the extra $$$ over it.

 

[Scott B.]

New to this thread also, with a hardware question.

For the iPad, is an external GPS (such as a Bad Elf plug-in) needed/preferred or is the internal GPS sufficient?

Thank you.

 

[Corey]

From what I heard and read (why I am not using my iPad in the rig) is my iPad Air only works with GPS on my Wi-Fi signal, so I would have needed to buy a Bluetooth antenna like the Bad Elf or others out there.

The nice thing about Android tablets is they have a GPS chip in them that works with no Wi-Fi signal or data signal needed.