public:eastmids
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- | :-)====== MERG East Midlands Area Group News ====== | + | :-) |
- | [[:public:areagroups|Return to Area Groups | + | ====== MERG East Midlands Area Group News ====== |
- | [[:public: | + | [[https:// |
+ | [[https:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | **This is the public page, members please check here for the latest news | ||
+ | [[areagroups: | ||
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- | To send us an email, use the [[https:// | + | To contact |
For MERG members, you might also like to look at our [[https:// | For MERG members, you might also like to look at our [[https:// | ||
- | ---- | + | ====== December 2023 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ====== |
+ | Here is the agenda for our December 2023 online Zoom area group meeting. | ||
- | ====== OCTOBER 2019 East Midlands area group meeting ====== | + | **Saturday 9th December from 10:00** |
- | **Saturday 26th October 2019 from 9:30** | + | This meeting will be online using Zoom. |
- | Kindly hosted by the Nene Valley Railway in their Study Centre meeting room at Wansford | + | As before, we have found that regular breaks of roughly 10-15 mins worked well, to avoid people getting fatigued from staring |
- | Thanks to Russ Jenner for organising the venue for us. | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
- | + | ||
- | This is an Arduino themed meeting. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ---- | + | |
**AGENDA** | **AGENDA** | ||
- | * 09:30 Members arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | + | The meeting will be informal |
- | * 10:00 Group news and events update | + | |
- | * 10:15 Introduction to Arduino - Alex Hamilton | + | |
- | * 11:15 Coffee Break | + | |
- | * 11:30 Introduction to the CBUS CANMIO - Pete Brownlow | + | |
- | * 12:30 The Universal CANMIO firmware - Ian Hogg | + | |
- | * 11:00 Coffee Break | + | |
- | * 11:30 Case studies of Arduino in model railway projects - Duncan Greenwood | + | |
- | * 12:30 Lunch | + | |
- | * 13:30 Kit locker news - Judi Rastall | + | |
- | * 14:00 Afternoon pratical sessions, including: | + | |
- | A chance | + | * 10:00 - Get connected, Informal chat |
- | + | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | |
- | | + | * 10:45 - Essex Brick a lockdown |
- | + | | |
- | Our usual practical problem solving clinic session | + | |
- | + | * 12:45 - QnA | |
- | We may also have some NVR signal box tours available organised by Russ Jenner | + | |
+ | | ||
- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
- | We will ask for £2 per head to cover the room hire cost and £1 each in the " | + | For the help clinic session |
- | A selection of MERG kits will be available for purchase. | + | If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select |
- | The NVR cafe will be open from about 8:30 for bacon butties or full breakfast, and also open at lunchtime. However, as it is a running weekend including Thomas | + | Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page. |
- | The meeting room is step-free accessible. If you need a disabled parking space reserved close up, please | + | If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https:// |
- | For those who would like to come by train, we can arrange to collect you from Peterborough station or, if you can get there early enough, I can collect from Wellingborough station on my way to the meeting about 7:30am. | + | If you still can' |
- | If you would like to come, please | + | I will send out the usual reminder |
- | + | ||
- | Members from outside the East Midlands are always welcome at our meetings, as are visitors. Please just let us know you are coming so we can plan for the numbers expected. | + | |
---- | ---- | ||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | ====== OCTOBER 2023 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ====== | ||
+ | **Saturday 21st October 2023 from 10:00** | ||
- | ====== AUGUST 2019 East Midlands area group meeting | + | The meeting |
- | **Saturday 17th August 2019 from 10:00** | + | We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover both the venue hire and teas/ |
- | Kindly hosted by David Straker at his place in Leicester. | + | The venue has level step free access and good parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know. |
- | Weather permitting, there will be an opportunity to see and operate David' | + | There is a cafe on site, I will confirm arrangements, but most likely we will pass the menu around in the morning so you can order lunch if you wish. |
- | + | ||
- | Collection can be arranged from Leicester station for those who would like to come by train. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Tea and coffee | + | |
- | + | ||
- | The meeting is on the ground floor and easily accessible with no steps. | + | |
+ | If the Wifi at the venue is working well enough, we will endeavour to have a Zoom connection for the morning meeting, for those who cannot come in person. However, the meeting will be optimised for those who manage to get along, who will get the best experience. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
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The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times: | The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times: | ||
- | * 10:00 Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | + | * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members |
- | * 10:30 Welcome - David Straker | + | * 10:30 - Welcome |
- | * 10:40 Introductions and group news | + | * 10:35 - Group news and Introductions |
- | * 10:50 Kit locker Update | + | * 10:45 - CBUS and JMRI at Gwynne Junction - James Cunningham - including some or all of CANMIO Rev K, JMRI semaphore signalling, my JMRI touchscreen signal box and Railcom |
- | * 11:15 Short coffee break | + | * 11:45 - Tea/coffee break |
- | * 11:30 CBUS enhancements to JMRI, demo and discussion | + | * 12:00 - MERG & kit locker updates - Judi Rastall |
- | * 12:15 Finding your way around the MERG website, forum and wiki - Pete Brownlow | + | * 12:30 - The Universal Experimenters Module |
- | * 13:00 Lunch - bring your own packed lunch (tea and coffee provided) | + | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK |
- | + | * | |
- | * 13:30 A chance to operate David Straker' | + | * 13:30 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations |
- | * in parallel with: | + | |
- | * 13:30 Making it work - our usual problem solving clinic | + | |
- | + | ||
- | * 16:00 “Wrap up” discussion, confirm next meeting | + | |
---- | ---- | ||
+ | During the afternoon, as well as our usual help and problem solving clinic, Russ advises that the railwayana shop at NVR will be open which now has quite a lot of double 00 and a few N and O gauge second hand stock. | ||
- | If you would like to bring anything to run on David' | + | If he can get the 00 layout |
- | There will be some kits available | + | Short trips to the NVR shed will be available |
- | For the clinic session, as we have done before, if you have built something and would like any help and advice, please bring it along and we'll work on it with you as a demonstration for everyone. If you know in advance what you would like to get sorted, let us know in advance so we can gen up on it. | + | It is a running day at NVR with 3 trains, pulled by W D Austerity. |
- | If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. | + | If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. |
- | If you would like to come by train, please let us know if you need a lift from the station. | + | Let us know if you need a lift from Peterborough |
+ | |||
+ | (Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I have noted you and I will be sending out confirmation emails in the week before the meeting.) | ||
- | All visitors, and MERG members from outside the East Midlands, are always welcome at our area group meetings. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
+ | ====== JULY 2023 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ====== | ||
+ | |||
+ | **Saturday 8th July 2023 from 10:00** | ||
+ | |||
+ | Due to Judi's building work not being complete in time, we have swapped the venues for our July and September meetings. | ||
+ | |||
+ | This meeting will now be at Aisthorpe Village Hall, near Lincoln, Kindly hosted by Lincoln & District Model Railway Club (L& | ||
+ | |||
+ | Thanks to Richard Joyce for organising the venue for us. | ||
+ | Tea and Coffee will be available all day, please bring your own packed lunch as there are no other facilities nearby. | ||
- | ====== SUMMER 2019 East Midlands area group meeting ====== | + | We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/ |
- | **Sunday 7th July 2019 from 10:00** | + | The venue has level step free access and reasonable parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know. |
- | Kindly hosted by Julie and Brian Chapman | + | Provided the Internet connection |
- | Collection can be arranged from Skegness station for those who would like to come by train. | + | More details of parking and how to find the venue will be included in your confirmation email when you book your place. Please remember to book a place and not just turn up on spec, in case there are any changes we need to let you know about. |
- | Full details and directions to the venue will be confirmed to those attending. | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
**AGENDA** | **AGENDA** | ||
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The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times: | The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times: | ||
- | * 10:00 Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | + | * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members |
- | * 10:30 Introductions, Group news, future meetings etc. | + | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions |
- | * 10:45 Driving and firing a steam locomotive, and how to apply this to correct use of a steam sound decoder | + | * 10:45 - Introduction |
- | * 11:45 Short tea/coffee break | + | * 10:50 - The CANPROG - what it is, building one, using it to program PICs - Pete Brownlow |
- | * 12:00 Report | + | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break |
- | * 12:45 Kit locker update - Judi Rastall | + | * 11:45 - Update |
+ | * 12:15 - Kit locker update - Judi Rastall | ||
+ | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK | ||
+ | * 14:00 - 16:00 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic - including FCU tutorial if requested | ||
- | * 13:00 Lunch | + | There should also be a chance |
- | + | ||
- | * 14:00 Making it work - practical sessions and problem clinic on any members projects, MERG kits or anything else. | + | |
- | * 16:00 Final discussion, confirm next meeting and thanks | + | |
+ | We will of course have our usual problem clinic providing General help on problems with kits or other electronic projects, building, testing, problem solving, techniques such as soldering etc. | ||
+ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
- | ---- | + | If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. I will add you to the list and, in the week before the meeting, you will get a reply with full details, directions to the venue and parking information. Even if you are not sure yet whether you can get along, please let us know anyway so we can plan for likely numbers. |
+ | Please book a place rather than just turning up on spec, if there are any last minute changes we need to know who is coming so that we can contact you. | ||
- | As always, if you have built something and would like any help and advice, please bring it along and we'll work on it with you during | + | (Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the week before |
- | There will be some kits available to buy, but if you want something specific, I would recommend ordering it from the kit locker now and marking it for collection at the meeting. | + | ====== May 2023 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting |
- | Julie and Brian can accommodate a maximum of 20 people, so it will be first come first served | + | Here is the agenda |
- | Parking is quite limited, with double yellow lines on all roads nearby, Brian and the next door neighbour can accommodate about 10-12 cars max on the driveway. So please car share as much as possible. If it looks like we will have too many cars, then we will identify a car park in the vicinity where people can meet up and come on to the venue in one car. | + | **Saturday 27th May from 10:00** |
- | The venue is accessible. There are two steps but wheelchair ramps are available if required. If you need a parking space reserved on Brian' | + | This meeting will be online using Zoom. |
- | Tea/Coffee and biscuits will be available all day, bacon butties will be available in the morning. Please indicate when booking, if you would like a buttie, so Julie has a idea of numbers. | + | As before, we have found that breaks of roughly 10-15 mins per hour worked well, to avoid people getting fatigued from staring at their screens, so we will plan to do the same again. |
- | Let us know if you need a lift from the station. If arriving by train, please plan to arrive at Skegness station no later than 10am so that whoever picks you up does not have to miss any of the meeting. | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
- | If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. You will get a reply, in due course, with full address details, directions to the venue and parking information. | + | **AGENDA** |
- | For those who have already indicated you would like to come, I will be sending out confirmation emails over the next few days. | + | The meeting |
- | ---- | + | * 10:00 - Get connected, Informal chat |
+ | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | ||
+ | * 10:45 - MERG and kit locker news | ||
+ | * 11:00 - FCU (CBUS Config utility) - development news and status - Pete Brownlow | ||
+ | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) | ||
+ | * 11:45 - WebFCU (alternative CBUS config utility) - David Ellis | ||
+ | * 12:15 - From the MERG chairman - John Gowers | ||
+ | * 12:45 - MERG AGM event - possible East Mids Area group involvement | ||
+ | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK | ||
+ | * 14:00 on - General QnA and help clinic | ||
- | ====== EASTER 2019 East Midlands area group meeting ====== | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
- | **Saturday 20th April 2019 from 10:00** | + | For the QnA sessions, if you have built something and would like any help and advice, please be ready to wave it at the camera, and we'll see what help and advice we can give from afar. |
- | Our next meeting | + | If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS-> |
- | KMRS is a small club that has a room in the Kingsway Centre in Wellingborough, where a small 00 gauge layout is under construction. They also have portable N gauge and 009 layouts at various stages of development. The society uses the meeting room in the centre for their weekly club meetings. | + | Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page. |
- | Normally it is not possible to hire the meeting room at weekends, as there are regular weekly meetings on Saturdays | + | If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https:// |
- | However, neither of these organisations are meeting on Easter Saturday 20th April, so we have been able to hire the room. | + | If you still can't get the Zoom link, send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk and I'll email you the Zoom link. |
- | Collection can be arranged from Wellingborough station for those who would like to come by train. | + | I will send out the usual reminder email to everyone subscribed to the area group, it will go automatically to everyone |
- | We will ask for a donation of £2.50 per head to cover the room hire, and £1 each in the pot to cover teas/ | + | ---- |
+ | ====== APRIL 2023 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ====== | ||
- | There is a Sainsbury' | + | **Saturday 8th April 2023 from 10:00** |
- | The venue is level access with no stairs. If you need a disabled car parking space reserved close to the door, please let me know. | + | Here is the agenda for our April meeting. |
- | ---- | + | This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Kingsway Model Railway Society (KMRS) at the Kingsway Centre in Wellingborough. |
- | **AGENDA** | + | We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/ |
- | The meeting will be informal | + | The venue has level step free access |
- | * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | + | You can either bring a packed lunch or nip out to somewhere locally, the town centre is about 5 minutes drive away and there is a co-op shop a few minutes walk away. |
- | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | + | |
- | * 11:00 - CBUS update, developments and news - by Pete Brownlow | + | |
- | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break | + | |
- | * 11:45 - Setting up JMRI routes with CBUS by Graham Clark | + | |
- | JMRI is a free software program | + | Provided the Internet connection at the venue is working, we will have a Zoom connection |
- | * 12:30 MERG DCC and CBUS on the KMRS 00 layout | + | More details of parking |
- | Pete will describe his experiences, | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
- | | + | **AGENDA** |
- | * 14:30 - 16:00 ish - Making it work - Practical workshop session | + | * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members |
+ | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | ||
+ | * 10:40 - Introduction to the Kingsway Model Railway Society - Roger Barker | ||
+ | * 10:45 - CBUS update - what has been happening in the CBUS world - Pete Brownlow | ||
+ | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break | ||
+ | * 11:45 - The new improved MERG ATC system - Mike Collins | ||
+ | * 12:30 - Kit locker update - Judi Rastall | ||
+ | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK | ||
+ | * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations | ||
+ | The Kingsway Model Railway Society 00 gauge layout will be open and partially running (one corner currently has an engineering possession for relaying the track). This uses the MERG DCC system and CBUS. The N gauge layout will also be set up. Pete will also have the Missenden St Mary's layout set up and running. | ||
- | ---- | + | Feel free if you want to bring something to run, the 00 layouts are DCC, the N gauge layout is analogue. |
+ | We will of course have our usual problem clinic providing General help on problems with kits or other electronic projects, building, testing, problem solving, techniques such as soldering etc. | ||
+ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
- | For the practical sessions, as we have done before, | + | If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. I will add you to the list and, before |
- | If you already know what you want help on for this session, please email the details in advance | + | Please book a place rather than just turning up on spec, if there are any last minute changes we need to know who is coming |
+ | Regards, | ||
- | Although the main presentations are quite CBUS-centric this time, we will of course cover anything and everything during the afternoon workshop session. | + | Pete |
- | If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. I will add you to the list and, in due course, you will get a reply with full address details, directions to the venue and parking information. | ||
- | If you are planning to come by train, let us know if you need a lift from Wellingborough station. Please plan to arrive at Wellingborough station no later than 10am so that whoever comes to pick you up does not have to miss any of the meeting. | ||
- | ---- | ||
- | ====== | + | ====== |
- | **Saturday | + | **Saturday |
- | Our next meeting | + | Here is the agenda for our September meeting. |
- | (See http:// | + | |
- | Firstly an apology for the clash with the Newark show, which I missed when booking the venue for this date. If anyone | + | This meeting |
- | + | ||
- | For our area group meeting, collection can be arranged from a nearby station for those who would like to come by train. | + | |
- | Visitors are always welcome at our area group meetings. | + | We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/ |
- | We will ask for a donation of £2 per head to cover teas/ | + | The venue has level step free access |
- | I will check and confirm if the buffet on site will be open on that day, serving refreshments, | + | You can either |
- | Steam trains will be running on the day between Butterley and Swanwick Junction, however | + | Provided |
- | The meeting room is upstairs, but HMRS have platform stair lift which I will double check is working, so step free access is available. The platform should accept | + | More details of parking and how to find the venue will be included in your confirmation email when you book your place. PLease remember to book a place and not just turn up on spec, in case there are any changes we need to let you know about. |
---- | ---- | ||
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* 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | ||
- | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | + | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions |
- | * 10:45 - Decoder Pro - by Colin Head | + | * 10:40 - Introduction to the Kingsway Model Railway Society - Roger barker |
+ | * 10:45 - Turntable Tales - My journey so far with the Peco Turntable and MERG Turntable Controller - kit John Wood\\ (Also includes using Julian' | ||
+ | * 11:15 - Tea/coffee break | ||
+ | * 11:30 - DCC and CBUS new developments with live demo - Pete Brownlow\\ (Including new features in CANCMD, CANCOMPUTE and development news on CANMIO (Universal) ) | ||
+ | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK | ||
- | * Decoder Pro is part of the JMRI software program, and can be used to set up the CV settings on DCC locos. | ||
- | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break | + | * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic |
- | * 12:00 - CBUS on Kimble | + | |
- | * John will describe his trials and tribulations implementing MERG DCC and CBUS on the ' | ||
- | * 13:00 - MERG Kit locker Update - Judi Rastall – News on new/updated kits, availability, | + | The Kingsway Model Railway Society |
- | * 13:30 - LUNCH BREAK | + | Feel free if you want to bring something to run, the 00 layouts are DCC, the N gauge layout is analogue. |
- | * 14:30 - 16:30 ish - Making it work - Practical session and problem clinic | + | We will of course have our usual problem clinic |
---- | ---- | ||
- | During introductions, | + | If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. I will add you to the list and, in a day or two, you will get a reply with full details, directions to the venue and parking information. Even if you are not sure yet whether you can get along, |
- | For the practical sessions, as we have done before, if you have built something and would like any help and advice, please bring it along and we'll work on it with you as a demonstration for everyone. | + | Please book a place rather than just turning up on spec, if there are any last minute changes |
- | + | ||
- | If you already | + | |
- | + | ||
- | If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. I will add you to the list and, in due course, you will get a reply with full address details, directions to the venue and parking information. Let us know if you need a lift from a nearby station. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | (Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the next day or so.) | + | |
+ | (Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the next few days). | ||
---- | ---- | ||
+ | ====== JULY 2022 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ====== | ||
+ | **Saturday 9th July 2022 from 10:00** | ||
- | ====== AUGUST MERG East Midlands area group meeting | + | The meeting |
- | + | ||
- | **Saturday 11th August 2018 from 10:00** | + | |
- | Kindly hosted by David Straker at his place in Leicester. | + | We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover both the venue hire and teas/ |
- | Weather permitting, there will be an opportunity to see and operate David' | + | The venue has level step free access |
- | Collection | + | There is a cafe on site, we will pass the menu around in the morning so you can order lunch if you wish. |
- | Tea and coffee | + | If the Wifi at the venue is working well enough, we will endevour have a Zoom connection for the morning meeting, for those who cannot come in person. However, the meeting will be optimised for those who manage to get along, who will get the best experience. |
- | The meeting | + | It is a running day on the NVR, purple timetable, scheduled to be a mix of steam and the Peak diesel. See the NVR website for more details. |
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The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times: | The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times: | ||
- | * 10:00 Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | + | * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members |
- | * 10:30 Welcome | + | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions |
- | * 10:45 Introductions | + | * 10:40 - Developing FCU - progress |
- | * 11:10 Kit locker Update | + | * 11:20 - Tea/coffee break |
- | * 11:30 Short coffee break | + | * 11:30 - Colin Head - Demo and progress report on my layout (which has no name yet!) |
- | * 11:45 What I'm doing and planning with DCC and CBUS - Pete Brownlow | + | * 12:10 - MERG & kit locker updates - Judi Rastall |
+ | * 12:30 - LUNCH BREAK | ||
+ | * 13:30 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic | ||
- | * 12:30 Lunch - bring your own packed lunch (tea and coffee provided) | + | Note: " |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | * 13:30 A chance to operate David Straker' | + | |
- | * in parallel with: | + | |
- | * 13:30 Making it work - our usual problem solving clinic | + | |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | * 16:00 “Wrap up” discussion, confirm next meeting and thanks | + | |
---- | ---- | ||
+ | If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message here in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. I will add you to the list and, in due course, you will get a reply with full address details, directions to the venue and parking information. Even if you are not sure yet whether you can get along, please let us know anyway so we can plan for likely numbers. | ||
- | This will the last meeting organised by me as area group leader, so hopefully somebody would like to step in and take over that roll. | + | Let us know if you need a lift from Peterborough |
- | + | ||
- | Judi will have some kits for purchase, but can only bring a selection so If you want any specific kits, you would be best to order them in advance from the kit locker and specify collection at the Leicester area group meeting at the checkout page. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | For the clinic session, as we have done before, if you have built something and would like any help and advice, please bring it along and we'll work on it with you as a demonstration for everyone. If you know in advance what you would like to get sorted, let us know in advance so we can gen up on it. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. You will get a reply with full address details and directions to the venue. (If you have already done so - you should have received your confirmation email - please contact us if you have not received it) | + | |
- | + | ||
- | If you would like to come by train, please let us know if you need a lift from the station. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | All visitors, and MERG members from outside the East Midlands, are always welcome at our area group meetings. | + | |
+ | Those who have already let us know that you are coming, you should have received a confirmation email with directions, parking, lunch details etc. If you have not received your confirmation email, please get in touch. | ||
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+ | ====== APRIL 2022 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ====== | ||
+ | **Saturday | ||
- | ====== SUMMER 2018 MERG East Midlands area group meeting | + | This meeting |
- | **Sunday 15th July 2018 from 10:00** | + | We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/ |
- | Kindly hosted by Judi Rastall at her place in Sutton on Sea. | + | The venue has level step free access and good parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know. |
- | Come to the seaside for our Summer meeting! The weather forecast | + | You can either bring a packed lunch or nip out to somewhere locally, |
- | The venue is about 5 minutes walk from the Prom, so you might like to bring the family for a day by the seaside, whilst we get on with the far more important stuff! Partners and families are welcome to use the other room for teas/ | + | We will have a Zoom connection for the morning meeting, for those who cannot come in person. I have added the Zoom link to the meeting info, so that it appears in your upcoming meetings |
- | Judi can accommodate up to 20 people, so bookings are first come first served. If we become fully booked, we will keep a waiting list in case of cancellations. Note that the 20 limit is for the room where we have the meeting, any partners or family who would like to come along for a day at the seaside are additional to the 20 limit. | + | More details of parking and how to find the venue will be included |
- | If you would like to come, please let us know as soon as possible. If you do decide at the last minute, it is still worth getting in touch as, with the longer distance that most have to travel, the numbers are usually less than more centrally located meetings. | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
- | Most of you will know that Judi is our Kit Sales Manager. This is an opportunity to see the huge MERG kit operation, how Judi manages the stock, processes the orders and sends out all those kits. | + | **AGENDA** |
- | Sutton on Sea is on the east coast of Lincolnshire between Skegness and Grimsby. Parking is available on street near the venue. We have scheduled this meeting | + | The meeting will be informal and flexible, |
- | This venue is less convenient for arrival by train. The nearest railhead is Skegness which is at the end of a long branch line and is an hour round trip from Sutton. | + | * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members |
+ | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | ||
+ | * 10:35 - Introduction to the Kingsway Model Railway Society - Roger barker | ||
+ | * 10:45 - My CBUS & JMRI journey - Julian Pratt (held over from the previous meeting) | ||
+ | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break | ||
+ | * 11:45 - Kit locker update - news about MERG kits - Judi Rastall | ||
+ | * 12:15 - CBUS update - developments and things I am working on - Pete Brownlow | ||
- | Tea and Coffee will be available, lunch can be purchased from local fish and chip shops (which are open on a Sunday), or bring your own if you prefer. | + | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK |
- | Judi has been progressing her loft railway, so you can have a look at how it is getting on. It is OO gauge DCC, visiting locos and stock are welcome. | + | * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations |
+ | The Kingsway Model Railway Society 00 gauge layout will be open and running, this uses the MERG DCC system and CBUS. The N gauge layout will also be set up. | ||
- | ---- | + | We will of course have our usual problem clinic providing General help on problems with kits or other electronic projects, building, testing, problem solving etc. There will also be the chance to operate the Kingsway 00 gauge layout using the MERG DCC system. |
- | **AGENDA** | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
- | The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times: | + | If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. I will add you to the list and, in a day or two, you will get a reply with full details, directions to the venue and parking information. Even if you are not sure yet whether you can get along, please let us know anyway so we can plan for likely numbers. |
- | + | ||
- | * 10:00 Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | + | |
- | * 10:30 Introductions and group news | + | |
- | * 11:00 The Great Model Railway Challenge - TV Series - my experience By Marcus Dawson | + | |
- | * 11:45 Short coffee break | + | |
- | * 12:00 Update from the committee – Martin Perry | + | |
- | * 12:30 MERG kit news by Judi Rastall – News on new/updated kits, availability, | + | |
- | * 12:30 Progress on my layout - Judi Rastall - an update on progress with the loft layout | + | |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | * 13:15 Lunch - Fish and chips from the local shops or bring your own | + | |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | * 14:30 Afternoon sessions: | + | |
- | * - The MERG kit locker by Judi Rastall – guided tours | + | |
- | * - Running session on Judi's loft layout | + | |
- | * - Making it work - our usual problem solving clinic | + | |
- | * - Help with soldering and kit construction | + | |
- | * - Or just relax in the sunshine in the garden | + | |
+ | (Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the next day or two). | ||
---- | ---- | ||
+ | ====== FEBRUARY 2022 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ====== | ||
+ | **Saturday 26th February 2022 from 10:00** | ||
- | Kits will, of course, be available for purchase. If you have specific requirements, | + | This meeting |
- | For the clinic session, as we have done before, if you have built something | + | Thanks to MERG and Bassetlaw Railway Society member Julian Pratt for arranging the venue for us. |
- | The venue is reasonably accessible, there are a couple | + | The Bassetlaw Railway Society |
- | To access | + | Parking is available in the station car park at a cost of £5. You can of course come by train to Retford Station. |
- | Please note that Judi is owned by her two Kit Cats who will be in attendance, so anyone who has any feline allergy or intolerance should be aware of this. | + | If we can get a Wi-Fi connection at the venue, we will have a Zoom connection for the morning meeting, for those who cannot come in person. However, I understand we are reliant on the LNER hosted Wi-Fi at the station, so we don't yet know if this will be possible. |
- | If you would like to come, and have not already done so, please | + | Numbers will be limited |
- | If you have already emailed or posted that you are coming, you should get your confirmation email in the next few days. | ||
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- | |||
- | |||
- | ====== MAY 2018 MERG East Midlands area group meeting ====== | ||
- | |||
- | **Saturday 26th May 2018 from 9:30** | ||
- | |||
- | Kindly hosted by the Nene Valley Railway in their Study Centre meeting room at Wansford | ||
- | |||
- | Thanks to Russ Jenner for organising the venue for us. | ||
- | |||
- | These arrangements are provisional, | ||
**AGENDA** | **AGENDA** | ||
- | With lots of good stuff on the agenda, We've gone for a slightly earlier start - since most people usually get there early anyway! | + | The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times: |
+ | * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | ||
+ | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | ||
+ | * 10:40 - The Bassetlaw (North Notts) Railway Society - Julian Pratt | ||
+ | * 10:50 - Different cabs for the MERG DCC system - Simon West, John Gowers & Pete Brownlow | ||
+ | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break | ||
+ | * 11:45 - Different cabs for the MERG DCC system - continued | ||
+ | * 12:15 - Kit locker update - Judi Rastall | ||
+ | * 12:30 - My CBUS & JMRI journey - Julian Pratt | ||
- | ---- | + | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK |
- | * 09:00 Members arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | + | * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations, |
- | * 09:30 Introductions and group news | + | |
- | * 09:45 Introduction to the CBUS CANMIO | + | |
- | * 10:00 The Universal CANMIO firmware - Ian Hogg | + | |
- | * 11:00 Coffee Break | + | |
- | * 11:30 MERG Kit news - Judi Rastall | + | |
- | * 12:00 Lunch (early as the NVR cafe may be busy) | + | |
- | * 13:00 3D printing - Howard Watkins | + | |
- | * 14:30 Split out for afternoon | + | |
- | * Setting up the Universal CANMIO with Ian Hogg | + | |
- | * 3D printing with Howard Watkins | + | |
- | * General kit problem solving with the usual team | + | |
- | ---- | + | The cabs session will cover basic how to use the MERG DCC system, circuit designs, the standard MERG CANCAB and other variations designed by members. |
+ | During the afternoon John Gowers will provide a soldering clinic, both through hole and surface mount. | ||
- | We will ask for £2 per head to cover the room hire cost and £1 each in the " | + | We will of course have our usual problem clinic providing General help on problems with kits or other electronic projects, building, testing, problem solving etc. |
- | Kits will be available for purchase. If you have specific requirements, | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
- | The NVR cafe will be open from about 8:30 for bacon butties or full breakfast, and also open at lunchtime. However, as it is a bank holiday running weekend at NVR, it may be very busy. For that reason, we have scheduled lunch early, and we may make arrangements | + | If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. I will add you to the list and, in a few days, you will get a reply with full details, directions |
- | The meeting room is step-free accessible. If you need a disabled parking space reserved close up, please let us know. | + | (Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the next few days.) |
- | For those who would like to come by train, we can arrange to collect you from Peterborough station or, if you can get there early enough, I can collect from Wellingborough station on my way to the meeting about 7:30am. | ||
- | If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands | + | ---- |
+ | ====== JANUARY 2022 East Midlands | ||
- | Members from outside | + | Here is the agenda for our January 2022 online area group meeting. |
- | ---- | + | **Saturday 15th January from 10:00** |
+ | This meeting will be online using Zoom. | ||
- | ====== FEBRUARY 2018 MERG East Midlands area group meeting ====== | + | As before, we have found that breaks of roughly 10-15 mins per hour worked well, to avoid people getting fatigued from staring at their screens, so we will plan to do the same again. |
- | **Sunday 4th Febrary 2018 from 10:00** | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
- | Kindly hosted by the Syston Model Railway Society at their clubrooms at The Old School Community Centre, Thurmaston, Leicestershire | + | **AGENDA** |
- | Thanks to SMRS and MERG member Mike Collins for arranging this venue for us. | + | The meeting will be informal |
- | Due to when the venue is available, we are trying | + | * 10:00 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/ |
+ | * 10:30 - Welcome | ||
+ | * 10:45 - - CBUS miscellany - Pete Brownlow | ||
- | Collection can be arranged from Syston station | + | * Latest CANMO (Universal) firmware release |
+ | * Using RFID and Railcom in JMRI | ||
+ | * CBUS control panels | ||
+ | * Any other CBUS updates | ||
- | Tea and coffee | + | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee |
+ | * 11:45 - Kit locker update - Judi Rastall | ||
+ | * 12:00 - Lunch break | ||
+ | * 13:00 - QnA and anyone looking for advice and help on any projects | ||
- | We will ask for a donation of £2 per head to cover the room hire. | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
- | The meeting room is on the ground floor and easily accessible. The clubrooms housing | + | For the QnA sessions, if you have built something |
- | **AGENDA** | + | If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS-> |
- | The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times: | + | Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page. |
- | * 10:00 Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | + | If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https:// |
- | * 10:30 Welcome to SMRS - by Mike Collins | + | |
- | * 10:35 Introductions and group news | + | |
- | * 11:00 Update on progress with my new automated layout by Colin Head | + | |
- | * 11:30 Tea/coffee break (or recovery time if we are running late) | + | |
- | * 11:45 Kit locker update - Judi Rastall | + | |
- | * 12:15 What's new and coming soon in JMRI latest versions - Pete Brownlow | + | |
- | * 13:00 Lunch - Bring your own | + | |
- | Also a chance to see the SMRS layouts on site | + | If you still can't get the Zoom link, send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk |
- | + | ||
- | * 14:00 Making it work - practical sessions using members projects, MERG kits or anything else. | + | |
- | * 16:30 Wrap-up discussion, confirm next meeting | + | |
- | * 16:35 Carry on with anything else we havn't fixed yet until we get thown out! | + | |
+ | I will send out the usual reminder email to everyone subscribed to the area group soon, it will go automatically to everyone who is subscribed to this area group. | ||
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- | Kits will be available for purchase. If you have specific requirements, | + | ====== Details |
- | For the practical sessions, as we have done before, if you have built something | + | [[areagroups: |
+ | and [[areagroups: | ||
+ | NB. These links are for MERG members only. | ||
- | If you already know what you want help on for this session, please email the details in advance so we can gen-up on it and look like we know what we are talking about! | ||
- | |||
- | If we didn't quite have time to get your project properly sorted at the last meeting, please bring it along again and you will be top of the list. | ||
- | |||
- | If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. You will get a reply in due course with full address details, directions to the venue and parking information. Let us know if you need a lift from the station. | ||
- | |||
- | MERG members and visitors from anywhere are always welcome at our meetings, you don't have to live in the East Midlands to come! | ||
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- | [[public: | ||
+ | {{tag> |
public/eastmids.txt · Last modified: 2024/05/03 21:37 by PeteB