My name is Vance Martin, Amateur Extra callsign N3VEM. I am a forty something happily partnered father, who happens to love ham radio! I became aware of the hobby/service as a teenager, when I stumbled on some of my dad’s old radio books, and later when I heard hams on the air using an MFJ World Band Shortwave Receiver that I was given as a kit. I didn’t actually become a ham however, until April of 2014. I’m a self proclaimed geek, so ham radio and all the electronic fun it implies is right up my alley!