ExplorOz Forum Latest

ID:152415 - Lithium battery in a caravan

Member - William B — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:58:00 GMT

Hello very knowledgeable people on this forum.
I have recently changed over to 2 lithium batteries in our caravan.
The question is regarding fitting them in a container and venting them externally.
Is the current rules on this applicable from a certain time or is it retrospective?
Any advise appreciated.
William
Replies: 6 FollowUps: 16 Views: 562

ID:152408 - Clarification: EOTopo 2023 and the new 4-Year Access "Expiry" Policy

Member - Stefan F2 — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:56:00 GMT

Hi everyone,
I wanted to start a discussion about the recent changes to EOTopo licensing (introduced in April 2026) and how it's impacting long-term users.
I have the EOTopo 2023 maps and a current Membership. To be honest, I only use ExplorOz occasionally because I’ve found it quite unreliable over the last three years. On both my iPad and Android devices, I constantly deal with the "blue screen" bug that requires a restart, and tracking that often just shows a straight line. I don’t have these issues with Memory Maps on the same devices, so it’s definitely an app-specific stability problem.
Now, on top of the $49.95/year Membership, I see that the maps I already paid for are being given a "use-by date" of 2027, and the new 2026 mapset has jumped to $79.99 with a 4-year limit.
For those of us who have documented years of technical issues, being asked to pay more for maps that eventually "expire" feels wrong. When I bought the 2023 maps, they were a one-time purchase. Under Australian Consumer Law, you can't really change the rules and "turn off" a product after the sale.
Is anyone else frustrated by the "double-dipping" of Membership + Map fees, especially given the ongoing stability issues? I’d love to hear from the admin team on why these limits are being applied to legacy purchases.
Cheers, Stefan
Replies: 10 FollowUps: 25 Views: 709

ID:152406 - GPS Navigator purchase

Cuppa — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:20:00 GMT

Recently our 3rd Hema HX1 got hot in the cab, whilst not in use, & the battery bulged so much it split the cases apart. This is my second HX1 to do this. The cab was hot but the HX1 wasn't in direct sunlight. Our first one had the screen delaminate in similar conditions.

Although the now taped together HX1 still works we decided a replacement navigator was probably a good idea whilst we are still somewhere with an address we can get it sent to, & where we have access to a workshop to use when installing it into the OKA.

I was not interested in getting a mapping system on a tablet - we already have that - Exploroz Traveller on a 10" ipad mounted in front of the passenger seat.

What I wanted was a 7" (or close) GPS Navigator which would fill the space that the HX1 takes. Of course it needs to be suitable for both on & off road as the HX1 was. Although not fantastic Hema maps have been 'good enough', particularly when used in conjunction with the 'navigator's' more detailed Exploroz maps.

Ozi Explorer would have been a contender, I know a number of folk who love it, but really I just didn't want the learning curve which appears to go with it. I know any new navigator/mapping system will have a learning curve, but Ozi Explorer just seemed bigger. I expect some Ozi Explorer die hards will tell me different.... but the decision was made & the purchase completed.

Mostly the EOTopo maps have been more detailed than the Hema, but last year we found one instance where the tracks shown on EOTopo were incorrect & the smudgy dotted line on the Hema correct. Mostly such differences over the years have been the other way around.

What the experience has taught me is that no mapping system is 100% accurate all of the time & that running more than one system is worthwhile for when there are these occasional discrepancies.

I ruled out another Hema navigator as although I have grown to like using the HX1 - I am not a fan of their hardware, & have always considered the software to be a bit clunky - even though long term familiarity had made this less of an issue.

Didn't leave much choice & only time will tell whether my choice, purchased online today has been a good choice or not. It certainly wasn't a cheap option. I've gone with the Garmin Tread 2 - Overland Edition. Took a while to get my head around several different Garmin off road navigators with similar names causing unnecesary confusion. I had hoped that as well as the the Garmin TOPO maps that it might be possible to load Exploroz Traveller onto the Garmin's Android system - but it isn't.

Instead I bought the Garmin from GPS OZ together with their latest version of their vector based OzTopo maps. Some examples of those maps did look a little 'busy' to me, but it is possible to turn layers (waterways & contours) at the press of a button on the screen to simplify the map when it is useful to do so.

The off road Garmin TOPO maps were a bit lacking in a few places I had screenshots of familiar places sent to me, but I expect them to be good on road & in towns.

It will be a month or so before we reach our friends in Kununurra & get our hands on the Garmin, but I am quite looking forward to it.
Replies: 0 FollowUps: 0 Views: 207

ID:152402 - Lest we forget.

Peter_n_Margaret — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 22:07:00 GMT

My father enlisted in the RAAF in WW2, but served with the RAF as an Astro Navigator in Beauforts and Beaufighters. The Beaufighters were one of the first squadrons to be fitted with rockets. They also carried torpedoes.
I cannot comprehend navigating a moving aircraft to a target over the ocean at night using just the stars, and then finding your way back to a tiny island in an enormous ocean.
Amasingly, he carried a personal camera for most of the war and we still have many photographs he took all over the world, including Pearl Harbour, USA, UK, Egypt, Iraq, Ceylon and Malta.
He lost many mates in Malta.

Bristol Beaufighter Mk X1
[gi]242597[/gi]

Beaufort Bomber.
[gi]242601[/gi]

Accommodation in Egypt.
[gi]242598[/gi]

In more recent years, Margaret and I visited Gallipoli.
This is Lone Pine.
[gi]242596[/gi]

As we walked down the hill from Lone Pine, there was a woman somewhere in the valley singing Amasing Grace.
Some things are etched into your brain, forever.

Lest we forget.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome
Replies: 5 FollowUps: 2 Views: 405

ID:152401 - Issue with accessing helpdesk- Admin request

Cuppa — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:02:00 GMT

I have deleted the original post as I finally realised what I was doing wrong & have rectified the the EOTopo web app issue I was having.

Somehow it has also also resolved my ability to post to the Helpdesk.

I have now sent a request to the helpdesk (on an unrelated matter) without getting an error message about validating credentials.
Replies: 1 FollowUps: 0 Views: 271

ID:152394 - Fuel Availability & Prices

ExplorOz - David & Michelle — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 02:22:00 GMT

Fuel is on everyone’s mind right now - and this is one area where we can help each other.

ExplorOz Places has been built on real traveller updates for 26 years, especially for remote stops where info is hardest to find.

If you’re passing through a roadhouse, remote region, small town, or aboriginal community take a moment to:

* check the place provided for fuel is current (add/update any changes)
* update the price of fuels b posting a review
* confirm availability
* note anything useful

Every review is date-stamped, so even a quick note helps the next traveller plan with confidence.

It only takes seconds while you’re filling up - but it makes a real difference out bush.
Replies: 3 FollowUps: 6 Views: 845

ID:152392 - Telstra Satellite texting

Tony W — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 05:10:00 GMT

I get my Telstra Mobile plans through JB Hi Fi. Unlike a Telstra shop, most staff are knowledgeable and friendly.

Given JB simply resells Telstra services (and is not an MVNO like Aldi, Boost, etc.), I also assumed until recently that the new Telstra Satellite service was part of my plan, since I have a compatible phone.

It isn't, unfortunately. I just want to give a heads up to others who assume the same. You need to buy a postpaid plan directly from Telstra for it to work. I hope this is useful to others using JB.
Replies: 4 FollowUps: 4 Views: 705

ID:152391 - Great Central Road

Member - Islandview23 — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:33:00 GMT

We are thinking about the GSR in June. While we accept that diesel will be expensive, does anyone out there have recent experience with availability? Don't want to get stuck mid-way with diesel not being available!!!!
Cheers, Mike
Replies: 6 FollowUps: 0 Views: 619

ID:152390 - PX1 Ranger antenna issue

Garry L — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 02:36:00 GMT

G'day All

I fitted a new android auto head unit to my trusty old PX1 Ranger work ute over the easter weekend and despite some minor hiccups and hurdles have it working well and very happy with it. Only issue I have is I can only pick up my local radio station here in Murray Bridge so figured it's an aerial problem. When removing the old unit I broke a small connector on a small coaxial cable which was part of the factory loom. The new unit came with an adaptor cable/plug to join into the connector I broke. I bought a new aerial and figured that would solve my problem so removed everything on the B pillar, the overhead console and half the roof lining to remove factory antenna. The factory antenna had a small wire/connector alongside the coaxial cable which joined into a small cable that went to what appears to be another antenna inside the B pillar - the new antenna I bought does not have this small cable and after all my effort with the new antenna I still can only get my local radio station.

So would anyone know what that extra little cable is for and what it plugs into and if I source another antenna whether factory or aftermarket with the extra little cable/connector would that solve my one radio station issue ?

Look forward to all replies and advice

Cheers
Gazz
Replies: 2 FollowUps: 12 Views: 590

ID:152389 - Unsynced routes

Bullfrog — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:43:00 GMT

I have 4 very large routes that will not sync. Unfortunately I am not a member so I can’t export the route before resetting the app to clear the queue and get sync to work again. Any suggestions on how to fix without loosing my locally stored routes? Every time I edit or create a new route it just add to the unsynced queue.
Replies: 2 FollowUps: 2 Views: 350