Got my tech license last month and just picked up the TYT TH-9800 for my first HF rig. Ham buddy who owns one recommended it and is letting me use a spare copper j-pole antenna.
I've been using a Zastone 9000 for over a year now. They are a decent radio albeit with a little bit of a dead front end. It could be my installation in my vehicle though. One big advantage is the multiple speaker option plus the ability to use the built in FM transmitter to output the sound to your car radio. If I had one gripe though is that the offset frequency does not auto select so you have to adjust it yourself and it doesn't let you key it in. It actually receives hf am surprisingly. I can get WWV in the car on my 2m/440 antenna.
