Cell Phone

FYI: Performance of Navionics after Updating and Downloading is so so. Sometimes it doesn’t keep up to you. I’m disappointed with Navionics, but others may get better performance where they’re located though. 

Wi-Fi is now coming to many camps. Our remodeled cabin about 60 miles northwest of Red Lake now even includes a large screen television. Everyone in my group is communicating with loved ones every time we come in.. We used to have to rely on unreliable satellite phone for any communications

Yes, you phone doesn't need Internet connection to use mapping hardware.  That being said, they are installing more towers every year and I had coverage, this spring my, from pigeon river border crossing to Ignace and several miles north on 599...ATT...

Vexilar makes a Sonarphone that uses your smartphone for the display, integrates Navionics with a depthfinder and apparently allows you to custom map.  I have one that I never used and would be willing to offer for obo.  It requires a 12v battery and for portable use, attach to small board and C-clamp to transom?

Crazy thing for me on Wabaskang lake I get better service than many places in Wisconsin.

Absolutely!!!  I wasn't ready to make the upgrade some years ago from my perfectly working Lowrance unit, but I also knew that mapping on my old unit was not happening.  This trip was top Lac Suel and all you need to do before you leave is to download the area you're going to be in and your phone's GPS does the rest.  So I downloaded Navionics to my phone and used it in conjunction with my depthfinder and once I laid a trail that I felt comfortable with, I felt good that I would be safe and if I was in areas that needed care, I slowed down and worked through that area using that sonar moreso than the mapping. 

The suggestion of a smaller Helix or other unit for sonar, would be useful and you can find portable transducer mounts or even on not moving a lot an icefishing sonar would be a plus!!!  

Musky Ben

See if you can find a used Helix unit with GPS, then basically use it like you would while ice fishing with a small 12v battery. Even if not using the transducer, the head will still work. You could also figure out a temporary mount for the transducer and have the best of both worlds.