Howdy folks! I am in the market for a new system and wanted to see if there were any options $400 or less that has the following features:

- App connectability to mobile devices
- CHIRP Sonar quality (or something like it)
- Chart plotter
- The ability mark a waypoint on the depth finder feature (aka mark structure on the depth finder and then it shows up on the map)
- Navionics chip installability
- Ability to connect to side scan features in the future
- Under $400
- Can work in fresh or saltwater

Screen size doesn't matter that much to me because I would like to pull it up on my phone/iPad anyway. Also, I don't want to invest in the side scan right now as I cannot afford it. I think those are all my constraints. I'd like to get it installed in the upcoming couple of weeks, so I can try to get into catching some stripers soon!

Idk about the app connection for hb. Garmin has it but not for 400.00

That's a tall order for $400 bucks. I know since I recently shopped.

If you have to have Navionics the Garmin is out. This is from the Garmin site: "However, we must inform users that, in December 2014, Garmin announced a change to their software thus making their devices incompatible with Navionics charts. Customers that utilize software version 2015.0202 or newer will no longer be able to use Navionics charts."

I think the Lawrence HDS-7 Gen2 Touch can do everything on your list but that is over $700. It appears that the apps and phone/tablet capability is the most difficult capability at a lower price point.

I'm not real familiar with Humminbird's app capability, but I think it is only offered on the ION series which is very expensive.

Raymarine has app viewing in their Dragonfly series but I don't know the full details, you may want to check it out.

I hope this helps a little and saves you some time.

When you are no longer a green horn you will understand you asked for too much for the mere $400 you wish to spend. You'll also wonder about your choice after you replace your mobile device due to salt corrosion or other damage from use on the boat. There's a reason we pay for devices designed to operate day in day out in a marine environment. Very few small boat fishermen use a screen-cast feature in my understanding. It's more of a big-boat thing where crew members may be in a room away from the cockpit, etc.

Oh, I'm aware that it's not cheap. I'm just trying to set my expectations appropriately given my current constraints. That said, I wanted to see if I could set myself up for the possibility of paying more down their road. Thanks for the feedback!