Review on Humminbird 411350 1 Helix Chirp Finder by Elvis Bragg

I have two boats and have decided to have this unit move between the two boats. This was a huge improvement over my previous 10 year old sonar as I was able to easily move between the three Hummingbird docks on my two boats. (Two perch). I went over budget to have a better device to move from editing station to editing station knowing I would have to buy an extra sensor and docking points. From the moment I received the device I was amazed at the quality and versatility compared to others. my old device. Hence five stars for the quality of what I see now. I'm a bit disappointed with the rate at which signal quality degrades, but may improve with tuning and experience. At the moment, the automatic map return started to lose at about 8 mph and the sideways image at about 6. Poor quality on the plane which was true for my old one and from what I heard from the dealer for all units. Certain frequencies may work better, but I haven't tried them all yet. So why three stars? Because the electronics and quality seem amazing but I have to spend a lot to get all the features out. I need a proprietary Zeroline SD card to store more than a few hours of data. In order to be able to use the Zeroline map, I need an Autochart. If I want to see the 3D views of the map I need autochart pro. So basically another $80, $150, or $200 to use the autochart features. The basemaps for the device are pretty generic, so eventually the autochart helps when I'm plotting, converting and reloading a lot of time onto the device. (Software doesn't work on Mac, so you'll have to buy a PC. It seems ridiculous that $200 software isn't Mac compatible.) but an automatic map of Lake Powell would be impossible. Solution. Smart Strike Western States or Lakemaster SD cards. Another $200 SD card. Now I have up to $400 extra. If I'm going to spend that much, I better buy the right ones. There are many different versions out there. I'm calling a hummingbird and I'm tired of waiting on the line so I'm chatting online. Let me save you some time. Autochart v 2.3 is the latest version. And Western States v3.0 is the latest. Sold out on the Hummingbird website. Why? Because they don't sell directly to the consumer. And is it possible to update after the release of new versions? nope $400 non-renewable program tickets. And this software should only use the functions that are already present in the machine. It's so annoying you get a nickel and a dime and $200 each. Then, for lack of research, I didn't know that the converters for this thing cost $379. Plus power cord and brackets. 3 stars because accessories cost an arm and a leg and they seem very overpriced and unsupported. I figured I'd eventually get an ipilot compatible trolling motor to take advantage of the autopilot and contour following capabilities it can work with, or even 360 degree views. But $1000 would do for me. I guess the hummingbird thinks all fishermen are rich, but with a paramedic's budget it would be cheaper to hang $100 bills on my hook.