Zach,
The Sony 7600 copies C W and it is a pretty decent receiver.  There 
are a whole boatload of newer receivers around - I'm sure you will 
get a lot more input.
Learn the code and enjoy it.  When you finally get on H F, use it and 
enjoy it.  It's fun.
Pat, K9JAUAt 11:06 AM 6/25/2013, you wrote:
>Hey all,
>I'm wondering if there are any portable shortwave receivers out there
>that are relatively accessible, and that can receive cw.
>Now that I've had my license for a couple weeks and have familiarized
>myself with basic procedure, I'd like to get started studying for
>general.  First though, I want to learn cw.
>I've been doing cw training tapes I found online, as well as using the
>g4fon cotch trainer, but what I'd really like is to be able to listen
>to some code on the air, and copy that.  I feel like that'd be the
>best practice, to actually use realtime, on air code.
>I'd also like to see what kind of stuff I can pick up on the low
>frequencies where I live.
>I don't even know how good a portable receiver like this would be, as
>I know you have  to have decent antennas to even be able to pick up
>most of this stuff.
>Please forgive a stupid question from a total newbie, but everybody's
>gotta start somewhere, eh?
>I'd just really like to start listening to some code on air and
>copying it. Maybe this is also something I could do with echolink.
>Are there even shortwave stations you can pick up anymore?
>
>Thanks in advance for all the great advice I know will come.
>This list is really great, and I look forward to actually being able
>to talk to some of you guys once my echolink approval goes through.
>
>73
>Zach, kk4ruz