Construction: The 860 is basically constructed with a plastic case and plastic/rubber buttons. It lays flat so the display
looks up. I don't really care for this design because it is so hard to read
the display, but it is easy to program. The antenna comes out of the
back of the radio and has become loose do to a poor solder job when the radio was assembled.
Performance: This scanner isn't as sensitive as my other radios, in fact, this radio picks up more interference
then any of my other radios. Cell phones can be heard on this radio but not on their actual
frequencies. The radios sound is poor, there is plenty of volume but no middle or lower tones, it sounds more like
a hand held radio then a base. It is real hard to understand what is said sometimes.
My 2 cents: I bought this scanner because I needed something to cover the 800 mhz range and this did the job but that was it.
Stores sold this scanner for around $170 bucks which I think is way to much. Because of the interference it picks up
and the poor construction, especially the connection for the antenna, and the sound, I wouldn't recommend this radio.
I still have this radio but I hardly ever use it, if I do, it's just at work or in my garage. It's a good beginners radio
especially since it holds 100 channels but if someone was serious, I wouldn't recommend it. If your into cell phones, this radio
can pick up some but it's also illegal to listen.
Today I wouldn't pay more then 40 bucks for this scanner if it was used and 80 bucks if it was new. There is so much
better out there for just a little more.
