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: | ||
- | Joint area group coordinators - Pete Brownlow and John Gowers | ||
+ | Joint area group coordinators - Pete Brownlow and John Gowers | ||
- | To send us an email, use the [[https:// | ||
+ | To contact us, use **[[https:// | ||
For MERG members, you might also like to look at our [[https:// | For MERG members, you might also like to look at our [[https:// | ||
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- | ====== SEPTEMBER 2021 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ====== | ||
- | Here is the agenda for our September 2021 online | + | ====== May 2024 East Midlands face to face area group meeting |
- | **Saturday 11th September from 10:00** | + | Here is the agenda for our May 2024 area group meeting, which has a Railcom theme. |
- | This meeting will be online using Zoom. | + | **Sunday 19th May 2024 from 10:00** |
- | 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. | + | Please note that this meeting is on the **Sunday** for a change. This is due to venue availability, but may also allow some who have other regular commitments, or have to work, on Saturdays |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | ---- | + | |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | **AGENDA** | + | |
- | + | ||
- | The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times: | + | |
- | + | ||
- | * 10:00 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/ | + | |
- | * 10:30 - Welcome and Introductions | + | |
- | * 10:45 - EzyAutomation (no additional wires system) by Julian Coles | + | |
- | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) | + | |
- | * 11:45 - Group news and updates | + | |
- | * 12:15 - Lunch | + | |
- | * 13:15 - QnA and clinic for anyone looking for advice and help on any projects | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ---- | + | |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | 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. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS-> | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https:// | + | |
- | + | ||
- | If you still can' | + | |
- | ---- | + | |
- | ---- | + | |
- | ====== AUGUST 2021 East Midlands area group meeting ====== | + | |
- | + | ||
- | **Saturday 7th August 2021 from 10:00** | + | |
- | + | ||
- | This is our first face to face meeting since 14 March 2020, before Covid restrictions. | + | |
- | This meeting is Kindly hosted | + | This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Kingsway Model Railway Society (KMRS) |
- | We will ask for a donation of £3 per head to cover the venue hire. If we collect more than the cost of hiring the venue, we will donate the difference to KMRS. | + | We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/ |
The venue has level step free access and good parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know. | The venue has level step free access and good parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know. | ||
- | You can either bring a packed lunch or nip out to somewhere locally, | + | You can either bring a packed lunch or nip out to somewhere locally, the town centre |
- | We will limit numbers to 30 to make sure that the meeting | + | Provided |
- | + | ||
- | We will have a Zoom connection for the meeting, for those who cannot come in person. | + | |
+ | 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, and so we know how many people to cater for. | ||
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**AGENDA** | **AGENDA** | ||
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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 - Introducing my new role as MERG Education | + | |
- | * 11:00 - A demo of automation on Missenden St Mary' | + | |
- | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break | + | * 11:00 - Railcom in detail |
- | * 12:00 - Sounds for South Town - David Page | + | * 11:45 - Tea/coffee break |
- | * 12:45 - A summary | + | * 12:00 - Railcom continued |
+ | * 12:30 - Setting up Railcom on JMRI, and demo of Railcom in action on the MSM layout | ||
+ | * 13:00 - Kit locker update - Judi Rastall | ||
+ | * 13:15 - LUNCH BREAK | ||
+ | * | ||
+ | * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic. | ||
- | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK | + | The Kingsway Model Railway Society |
- | * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Making it work - Practical session | + | Feel free if you want to bring something to run, the 00 gauge layout |
+ | During the afternoon, Michael will be on hand for further discussions and demonstrations of Railcom. | ||
- | ---- | + | 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 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 all those interested. | ||
- | |||
- | If you already know what you want help on for this session, please email or post the details in advance so we can gen-up on it and look like we know what we are talking about! | ||
- | |||
- | 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. | ||
- | |||
- | Let us know if you need a lift from Wellingborough station. Please plan to arrive at Wellingborough station no later than 10am, so whoever picks you up does not have to miss any of the meeting. | ||
- | |||
- | (Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the next few days.) | ||
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- | ====== JULY 2021 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ====== | ||
- | Here is the agenda for our July 2021 online area group meeting. | ||
- | **Saturday 3rd July from 10:00** | + | 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, a week or so 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. |
- | This meeting will be online using Zoom. | + | (Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the week before the 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. | + | |
+ | ---- | ||
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+ | ====== March 2024 East Midlands face to face area group meeting ====== | ||
- | **AGENDA** | + | Here is the agenda for our March 2024 area group meeting. |
- | The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times: | + | **Saturday 16th March 2024 from 10:00** |
- | * 10:00 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/ | + | This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Bassetlaw |
- | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | + | |
- | * 11:00 - Planning for my CBUS layout - Jim Heck | + | |
- | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) | + | |
- | * 11:45 - StaRFIshrail - new CBUS RFID system - Martin Snashall | + | |
- | * 12:30 - Lunch | + | |
- | * 13:30 - QnA and clinic for anyone looking for advice and help on any projects | + | |
- | ---- | + | Thanks to MERG and Bassetlaw Railway Society member Julian Pratt for arranging the venue for us. |
+ | The Bassetlaw Railway Society are not charging us for the use of the room, but we will ask for a donation of £2 per head to cover the cost of teas & coffees and biscuits, and make a donation to the Society. | ||
- | 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. | + | Access is step free, but the entry door to the clubrooms is probably not wide enough for a powered wheelchair. |
- | If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS-> | + | For those coming by train, there are reasonable arrivals from east (9:50), west (9:20) and north (9:38). From the south, there is one from Peterborough |
- | Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page. | + | Parking is now: £6.25 at the station, £4.95 at [[https:// |
- | If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https:// | + | There is a Costa Coffee on the station, a convenience store 2 minutes walk away and Retford has many excellent eating places, just 12 minutes walk away, or you may bring a packed lunch. |
- | 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. | + | There is no Wi-Fi at the venue, so a Zoom connection will not be possible. If presenters need to access something online, we may be able to use mobile phone hotspots, 4G coverage permitting. |
- | ---- | + | |
- | ====== MAY 2021 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ====== | + | |
- | Here is the agenda for our MAY 2021 online area group meeting. | + | More details of parking and how to find the clubrooms |
- | + | ||
- | **Saturday 29th May from 10:00** | + | |
- | + | ||
- | This 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. | + | |
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- | |||
**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 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/ | + | * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal |
* 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | ||
- | * 10:45 - Round-up of what members have been doing - anyone and everyone | + | * 10:40 - The Bassetlaw (North Notts) Railway Society |
- | * 11:15 - An easier way to connect Tortoise point motors | + | * 10:50 - MERG news - John Gowers |
- | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) | + | * 11:00 - The CANXIO - Pete Brownlow |
- | * 11:45 - Choosing CBUS modules for a layout | + | * 11:45 - Tea/coffee break |
- | * 12:30 - Lunch | + | * 12:00 - The Raspberry Pi Pico - David Jones |
- | * 13:30 - QnA and clinic for anyone looking for advice | + | * 12:45 - Kit locker update |
+ | * 13:15 - LUNCH BREAK | ||
+ | * | ||
+ | * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations | ||
- | ---- | + | During the afternoon our chairman, John Gowers, will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about MERG committee matters etc. |
+ | The Bassetlaw Railway Society modelling rooms will be open, where the main 00 gauge layout will be operated by society members and other layouts will be on display, including a newly started N gauge, a nearly ready O gauge and a Triang TT. | ||
- | 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. | + | We will of course |
- | If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS->MY UPCOMING EVENTS, or go directly to https:// | + | ---- |
- | Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page. | ||
- | If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https:// | + | If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk |
- | 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. | + | (Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the week before |
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- | ====== APRIL 2021 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ====== | ||
- | Here is the agenda for our April 2021 online | + | ====== January 2024 East Midlands ONLINE |
- | **Saturday | + | Here is the agenda for our January online Zoom area group meeting. |
+ | |||
+ | **Saturday | ||
This meeting will be online using Zoom. | This meeting will be online using Zoom. | ||
- | 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. | + | As before, we have found that regular |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | ---- | + | |
+ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
**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 - Get connected, | + | * 10:00 - Get connected, |
- | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | + | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions |
- | * 11:00 - A design | + | * 10:45 - Essex Brick part 2 - getting into using YAAT for automation |
- | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) | + | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) |
- | * 11:45 - Loco speed profiling with JMRI - Pete Brownlow | + | * 11:45 - My initial exploration of the Hornby HM7000 system |
- | * 12:30 - Lunch | + | * 12:15 - QnA on the above talks |
- | * 13:30 - QnA and clinic for anyone looking for advice | + | * 12:30 - Kit and other news |
+ | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK | ||
+ | * 14:00 on - General | ||
- | ---- | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+ | For the help clinic session in the afternoon, 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. | ||
- | 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. | + | If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS-> |
- | + | ||
- | If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS-> | + | |
Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page. | Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page. | ||
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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. | 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. | ||
- | ---- | + | I will send out the usual reminder email, it will go automatically |
- | ====== MARCH 2021 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ====== | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Here is the agenda for our March 2021 online area group meeting. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | **Saturday 27th March from 10:00** | + | |
- | + | ||
- | This meeting will be online using Zoom. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | 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. | + | |
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- | **AGENDA** | ||
- | The meeting | + | ====== December 2023 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting |
- | * 10:00 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/ | + | Here is the agenda for our December 2023 online Zoom area group meeting. |
- | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | + | |
- | * 10:45 - Design process for PTP-Lite on my layout Great Shefford - Richard Wilson | + | |
- | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) | + | |
- | * 11:45 - Update on my 3D designs using Sketchup - Gordon Hopkins | + | |
- | * 12:30 - Lunch | + | |
- | * 13:30 - QnA and clinic for anyone looking for advice and help on any projects | + | |
- | ---- | + | **Saturday |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | 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. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS-> | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https:// | + | |
- | + | ||
- | 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. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | ---- | + | |
- | ====== FEBRUARY 2021 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ====== | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Here is the agenda for our February 2021 online area group meeting. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | **Saturday | + | |
This meeting will be online using Zoom. | This meeting will be online using Zoom. | ||
- | 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. | + | As before, we have found that regular |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | ---- | + | |
+ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
**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 - Get connected, | + | * 10:00 - Get connected, |
- | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | + | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions |
- | * 10:45 - Progress update on my DCC/ | + | * 10:45 - Essex Brick a lockdown to exhibition |
- | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) | + | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) |
- | * 11:45 - An O gauge destination blind - Graham Clark | + | * 11:45 - Update on my developments with DCC, CBUS and JMRI - Pete Brownlow |
- | * 12:30 - Lunch | + | |
- | * 13:30 - QnA and clinic for anyone looking for advice | + | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK |
+ | * 14:00 on - General | ||
- | ---- | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+ | For the help clinic session in the afternoon, 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. | ||
- | 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. | + | If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS-> |
- | + | ||
- | If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS-> | + | |
Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page. | Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page. | ||
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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. | 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. | ||
- | ---- | + | I will send out the usual reminder email, it will go automatically |
- | ====== JANUARY 2021 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ====== | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Here is the agenda for our January 2021 online area group meeting. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | **Saturday 30th January from 10:00** | + | |
- | + | ||
- | This meeting will be online using Zoom. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | 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. | + | |
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- | |||
- | |||
- | **AGENDA** | ||
- | |||
- | The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times: | ||
- | |||
- | * 10:00 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/ | ||
- | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | ||
- | * 10:45 - Installing DCC decoders in older locos - John Gowers | ||
- | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) | ||
- | * 11:45 - JMRI with automation on Missenden St Marys - Pete Brownlow | ||
- | * 12:30 - Lunch | ||
- | * 13:30 - QnA and clinic for anyone looking for advice and help on any projects | ||
- | |||
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+ | ====== OCTOBER 2023 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ====== | ||
+ | **Saturday 21st October 2023 from 10:00** | ||
- | For the QnA sessions, if you have built something | + | The meeting is Kindly hosted by the Nene Valley Railway at Wansford. Thanks to MERG and NVR member Russ Jenner for arranging |
- | If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select | + | We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover both the venue hire and teas/ |
- | Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page. | + | The venue has level step free access and good parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know. |
- | If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https:// | + | There is a cafe on site, I will confirm arrangements, but most likely we will pass the menu around |
- | 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. | + | If the Wifi at the venue is working well enough, we will endeavour |
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- | ====== DECEMBER 2020 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ====== | ||
- | |||
- | Here is the agenda for our December 2020 online area group meeting. | ||
- | |||
- | **Wednesday 30th December from 10:00** | ||
- | |||
- | This meeting will be online using Zoom. | ||
- | |||
- | 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. | ||
- | |||
- | |||
- | ---- | ||
- | |||
**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 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/ | + | * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members |
- | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | + | * 10:30 - Welcome |
- | * 10:45 - ASANWEN | + | * 10:35 - Group news and Introductions |
- | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) | + | * 10:45 - CBUS and JMRI at Gwynne Junction |
- | * 11:45 - QnA for David' | + | * 11:45 - Tea/coffee break |
- | * 12:15 - Update on Railcom, RFID and linking them to JMRI - Pete Brownlow | + | * 12:00 - MERG & kit locker updates - Judi Rastall |
- | * 12:30 - Lunch | + | * 12:30 - The Universal Experimenters Module |
- | * 13:30 - General QnA and anyone looking for advice | + | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK |
+ | * | ||
+ | * 13:30 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations | ||
- | ---- | ||
- | |||
- | |||
- | 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. | ||
- | |||
- | If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS-> | ||
- | |||
- | Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page. | ||
- | |||
- | If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https:// | ||
- | |||
- | 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. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
- | ====== NOVEMBER 2020 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ====== | ||
- | **Saturday 28th November from 10:00** | + | 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 |
- | This meeting | + | If he can get the 00 layout running for the afternoon he will do so. |
- | 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. | + | Short trips to the NVR shed will be available during |
+ | 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. I will add you to the list and, in the week before the meeting, 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. Please don't just turn up on spec, in case there are last minute changes we need to let you know about. |
- | **AGENDA** | + | Let us know if you need a lift from Peterborough station. Please plan to arrive at Peterborough station no later than 9:30am, so whoever picks you up does not have to miss any of the meeting. |
- | The meeting | + | (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.) |
- | * 10:00 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/ | ||
- | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | ||
- | * 10:45 - Theobald' | ||
- | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) | ||
- | * 11:45 - QnA for Neale' | ||
- | * 12:15 - Update on using Railcom with CANCMD and CANCSB - Pete Brownlow | ||
- | * 12:30 - Lunch | ||
- | * 13:30 - General QnA and anyone looking for advice and help on any projects | ||
---- | ---- | ||
+ | ====== JULY 2023 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ====== | ||
+ | **Saturday 8th July 2023 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, | + | Due to Judi's building work not being complete in time, we have swapped |
- | If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS-> | + | This meeting will now be at Aisthorpe Village Hall, near Lincoln, Kindly hosted by Lincoln & District Model Railway Club (L& |
- | Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page. | + | Thanks to Richard Joyce for organising |
- | If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https:// | + | Tea and Coffee will be available all day, please bring your own packed lunch as there are no other facilities nearby. |
- | If you still can' | + | We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/ |
- | ---- | + | The venue has level step free access and reasonable parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know. |
- | ====== OCTOBER 2020 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting | + | Provided the Internet connection at the venue is working well, we will have a Zoom connection for the morning |
- | **Saturday 31st October from 10:00** | + | 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. |
- | This meeting will be online using Zoom. | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
- | + | ||
- | 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. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ---- | + | |
**AGENDA** | **AGENDA** | ||
Line 441: | Line 295: | ||
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 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/ | + | * 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 - A tour round my T Gauge layouts and how I've implemented MERG/JMRI automation | + | * 10:45 - Introduction to the Lincoln & District Model Railway Club - Richard Joyce |
- | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) | + | * 10:50 - The CANPROG - what it is, building one, using it to program PICs - Pete Brownlow |
- | * 11:45 - QnA for Doug's presentation - DCC in T gauge, JMRI automation etc - following | + | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break |
- | * 12:30 - Lunch | + | * 11:45 - Update |
- | * 13:30 - Continue general QnA on all things MERG and anyone looking for advice | + | * 12:15 - Kit locker update |
+ | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK | ||
+ | * 14:00 - 16:00 ish - Demonstrations | ||
- | ---- | + | There should also be a chance to see some of the L&DMRC layouts. |
- | 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. | + | We will of course |
+ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
- | If you would like to join in, please | + | If you would like to come, please |
- | Please | + | Please |
- | If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https:// | + | (Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails |
- | 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, but with the new system that allows you to see the Zoom link directly from your events page, I no longer need to send out confirmation emails to everyone and you don't have to post a message here or send an email to reserve a place at the meeting. However, still feel free to post a message here to let us know you will be there if you wish. | + | ====== May 2023 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting |
+ | Here is the agenda for our May 2023 online Zoom area group meeting. | ||
- | ---- | + | **Saturday |
- | ====== SEPTEMBER 2020 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ====== | + | |
- | + | ||
- | **Saturday | + | |
This meeting will be online using Zoom. | This meeting will be online using Zoom. | ||
Line 471: | Line 326: | ||
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. | 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. | ||
- | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |
- | ---- | + | |
**AGENDA** | **AGENDA** | ||
Line 478: | Line 332: | ||
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 - Get connected, | + | * 10:00 - Get connected, |
- | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | + | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions |
- | * 10:45 - Guided tour of my layout | + | * 10:45 - MERG and kit locker news |
- | * 11:15 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) | + | * 11:00 - FCU (CBUS Config utility) |
- | * 11:30 - The MERG modules on Folkstone International | + | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) |
- | * 12:00 - My terminus with loco release line, part 2 - Michael Newton | + | * 11:45 - WebFCU |
- | * 12:30 - Lunch | + | * 12:15 - From the MERG chairman |
- | * 13:30 - QnA and anyone looking for advice | + | * 12:45 - MERG AGM event - possible East Mids Area group involvement |
+ | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK | ||
+ | * 14:00 on - General | ||
- | ---- | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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. | 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. | ||
- | If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS-> | + | If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS-> |
Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page. | Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page. | ||
- | If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to [[https:// | + | If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https:// |
- | 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, but with the new system that allows you to see the Zoom link directly from your events page, I no longer need to send out confirmation emails to everyone, you can just join in on the day. | + | 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. |
- | + | ||
- | ---- | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ====== AUGUST 2020 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ====== | + | |
- | + | ||
- | **Saturday 29th August 2020 from 10:00** | + | |
- | + | ||
- | This meeting will be online using Zoom. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | 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. | + | |
+ | I will send out the usual reminder email to everyone subscribed to the area group, it will go automatically to everyone who is subscribed to this area group. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
+ | ====== APRIL 2023 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ====== | ||
+ | **Saturday 8th April 2023 from 10:00** | ||
- | **AGENDA** | + | Here is the agenda for our April meeting. |
- | The meeting | + | This meeting |
- | * 10:00 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/ | + | We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/coffees. Note that one payment covers both, you don't need to pay separately for the teas and coffees. If we collect more than the cost of hiring the venue and refreshments, |
- | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | + | |
- | * 10:50 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) | + | |
- | * 11:00 - Introduction to my terminus with loco release line, using modified Pocket Money Projects. - Michael Newton | + | |
- | * 11:15 - Update on my projects, including CANINP/ | + | |
- | * 11:50 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) | + | |
- | * 12:00 - Charnwood - my PTP Lite layout - Judi Rastall | + | |
- | * 12:30 - PTP Lite QnA | + | |
- | * 13:00 - Lunch | + | |
- | * 14:00 - QnA and anyone looking for advice and help on any projects | + | |
+ | The venue has level step free access and good parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know. | ||
- | ---- | + | 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. |
- | 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. | + | Provided |
- | If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS-> | + | More details of parking |
- | + | ||
- | Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to [[https:// | + | |
- | + | ||
- | If you still can't get the Zoom link, send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ---- | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ====== JULY 2020 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ====== | + | |
- | + | ||
- | **Saturday 18th July 2020 from 10:00** | + | |
- | + | ||
- | This meeting will be online using Zoom. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | 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. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | ---- | + | |
+ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
**AGENDA** | **AGENDA** | ||
- | The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times: | + | |
- | + | ||
- | | + | |
* 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | ||
- | * 10:50 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) | + | * 10:40 - Introduction to the Kingsway Model Railway Society - Roger Barker |
- | * 11:00 - My projects | + | * 10:45 - CBUS update |
- | * 11:45 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) | + | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break |
- | * 12:00 - Locke Town - A tour around Roxeter and the PC that controls it.(A bit of a CBUS fest!) - by Nick Locke | + | * 11:45 - The new improved MERG ATC system |
- | * 13:00 - Lunch Break | + | * 12:30 - Kit locker update |
- | * 14:00 - Kit locker Update | + | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK |
- | * 14:15 - QnA and anyone looking for advice | + | * 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. | ||
- | 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. | + | We will of course |
+ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
- | If you would like to join in, please | + | If you would like to come, please |
- | If you are not a MERG member and would like to participate as a visitor to the meeting, please email to eastmids@merg.org.uk. | + | 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. |
+ | Regards, | ||
- | Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page. | + | Pete |
- | If you are a MERG member and you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https:// | ||
- | 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, but with the new system that allows you to see the Zoom link directly from your events page, I no longer need to send out confirmation emails to everyone for online meetings. Thanks to Allan and Martin S for all the work they have put into that system. | ||
- | This means you don't have to post a message on the forum or send an email to reserve a place at the meeting, but still feel free to post a message to let us know you will be there if you wish. | ||
- | I will send out the usual reminder emails to everyone subscribed to the area group in the next day or so, the updated membership system now allows me to do that without having to maintain a separate list of members email addresses, it will go automatically to everyone who is subscribed to this area group. | ||
+ | ====== SEPTEMBER 2022 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ====== | ||
- | ---- | + | **Saturday 3rd September 2022 from 10:00** |
- | ====== JUNE 2020 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting | + | Here is the agenda for our September |
- | **Sunday 28th June 2020 from 10:00** | + | This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Kingsway Model Railway Society at the Kingsway Centre in Wellingborough. |
- | This meeting | + | We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/ |
- | As before, we have found that breaks of 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. | + | The venue has level step free access and good parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know. |
- | ---- | + | You can either bring a packed lunch or nip out to somewhere locally, the town centre is about 5 minutes drive away. There is a co-op shop a few minutes walk away. |
- | **AGENDA** | + | Provided the Internet connection at the venue is working, we will have a Zoom connection for the morning meeting, for those who cannot come in person. I will add a Zoom link to the meeting info, so that it appears in your upcoming meetings on the MERG website. |
- | The meeting | + | 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. |
- | + | ||
- | * 10:00 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/ | + | |
- | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | + | |
- | * 10:45 - Kit Locker news Special | + | |
- | * 11:15 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) | + | |
- | * 11:30 - Progress with my Garden Railway - Colin Head | + | |
- | * 12:15 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) | + | |
- | * 12:30 - CBUS and JMRI update, including CANINP and CANOUT - Pete Brownlow | + | |
- | * 13:00 - Lunch Break | + | |
- | * 14:00 - QnA and anyone looking for advice and help on any projects | + | |
---- | ---- | ||
- | |||
- | |||
- | 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. | ||
- | |||
- | If you would like to join in, 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 the next couple of days, you will get a reply with Zoom link and meeting id. | ||
- | |||
- | ---- | ||
- | |||
- | ====== MAY 2020 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ====== | ||
- | |||
- | **Saturday 16th May 2020 from 10:00** | ||
- | |||
- | This meeting will be online using Zoom. | ||
- | |||
- | During our online courses, we found that breaks of 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. | ||
- | |||
- | ---- | ||
- | |||
**AGENDA** | **AGENDA** | ||
Line 639: | Line 432: | ||
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 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/ | + | * 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 - Fitting crystal adapter boards | + | * 10:40 - Introduction |
- | * 11:15 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) | + | * 10:45 - Turntable Tales - My journey so far with the Peco Turntable and MERG Turntable Controller - kit John Wood\\ (Also includes using Julian' |
- | * 11:30 - Update on my projects | + | * 11:15 - Tea/coffee break |
- | * 12:00 - QnA and anyone looking for advice and help on any projects | + | * 11:30 - DCC and CBUS new developments with live demo - Pete Brownlow\\ (Including new features in CANCMD, CANCOMPUTE |
- | * 12:30 - Lunch Break | + | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK |
- | * 13:30 - Kit locker update from Judi Rastal | + | |
- | * 14:00 - Continuation of QnA and advice clinic, until everyone has had enough! | + | |
- | ---- | + | * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic |
- | For the QnA sessions, if you have built something | + | The Kingsway Model Railway Society 00 gauge layout will be open and running, this uses the MERG DCC system |
- | If you would like to join in, 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, during | + | 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. |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | ====== APRIL 2020 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ====== | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Here is the agenda for our Easter online area group meeting. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | **Saturday 11th April 2020 from 10:00** | + | |
- | + | ||
- | This meeting would have been at the Kingsway Centre in Wellingborough, home to Kingsway Model Railway Society. Thanks are due to Kingsway Cenetre and KMRS, and hopefully we can re-schedule another meeting there at some time in the future. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | In the meantime, this meeting will now be online using Zoom. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | During our online courses, we found that breaks of 10-15 mins per hour worked well, to avoid people getting fatigued from staring at their screens, so we will follow that idea for the area group meeting. | + | |
---- | ---- | ||
- | **AGENDA** | ||
- | 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. 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 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/ | + | 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. |
- | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | + | |
- | * 10:45 - Kit locker update - Judi Rastall | + | |
- | * 11:15 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) | + | |
- | * 11:30 - CBUS & JMRI update - Pete Brownlow | + | |
- | * 12:15 - Another break | + | |
- | * 12:30 - QnA and anyone looking for advice and help on any projects | + | |
- | * 13:30 - Lunch Break | + | |
- | * 14:30 - Optional continuation of QnA and advice clinic, if we hadn't finished in the morning | + | |
+ | (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 ====== | ||
- | 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. | + | **Saturday 9th July 2022 from 10:00** |
- | If you would like to join in, 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, during tomorrow Friday, course, you will get a reply with Zoom link and meeting id. | + | The meeting is Kindly hosted by the Nene Valley Railway at Wansford. Thanks |
- | I will also host a test Zoom meeting at 7pm on Friday evening, | + | We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover both the venue hire and teas/ |
+ | The venue has level step free access and good parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know. | ||
- | ---- | + | There is a cafe on site, we will pass the menu around in the morning so you can order lunch if you wish. |
- | ====== MARCH 2020 East Midlands area group meeting | + | If the Wifi at the venue is working well enough, we will endevour have a Zoom connection for the morning |
- | **Saturday 14th March 2020 from 10:00** | + | 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. |
- | + | ||
- | Our March meeting | + | |
- | (See http:// | + | |
- | + | ||
- | We will ask for a donation | + | |
- | + | ||
- | I have been advised that there will be no catering on site that day, other than the teas and coffees, so you will need to bring a packed lunch. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | The meeting room is upstairs, but HMRS have a platform stair lift which I have confirmed is working, so step free access is available. The platform should accept a standard wheelchair, but will not take the larger mobility scooters. When confirming your place, please let us know if you have any mobility requirements. | + | |
---- | ---- | ||
- | |||
Line 723: | Line 485: | ||
* 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 - An Arduino based timed shuttle | + | * 10:40 - Developing FCU - progress and challenges, David Radcliffe |
- | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break | + | * 11:20 - Tea/coffee break |
- | * 12:00 - CBUS/CANMIO update & building CBUS modules that are not yet in the kit locker - Pete Brownlow | + | * 11:30 - Colin Head - Demo and progress report on my layout (which has no name yet!) |
- | * 13:00 - MERG Kit locker | + | * 12:10 - MERG & kit locker |
- | + | * 12:30 - LUNCH BREAK | |
- | * 13:30 - LUNCH BREAK | + | |
- | * 14:30 - 16:30ish - Making it work: Practical session & problem clinic plus demos & Soldering | + | * 13:30 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems |
+ | Note: " | ||
---- | ---- | ||
+ | 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. | ||
- | 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 all those interested. | + | Let us know if you need a lift from Peterborough |
- | + | ||
- | If you already know what you want help on for this session, please email or post the details in advance so we can gen-up on it and look like we know what we are talking about! | + | |
- | + | ||
- | 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. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | (Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the next few days.) | + | |
+ | 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. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
+ | ====== APRIL 2022 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ====== | ||
- | ====== OCTOBER 2019 East Midlands area group meeting ====== | + | **Saturday |
- | **Saturday 26th October 2019 from 9:30** | + | This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Kingsway Model Railway Society at the Kingsway Centre in Wellingborough. |
- | Kindly hosted by the Nene Valley Railway in their Study Centre meeting room at Wansford | + | We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/ |
- | Thanks to Russ Jenner for organising the venue for us. | + | The venue has level step free access and good parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know. |
- | This is an Arduino themed meeting. | + | You can either bring a packed lunch or nip out to somewhere locally, the town centre |
- | ---- | + | 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 on the MERG website. |
- | **AGENDA** | + | More details of parking and how to find the venue will be included in your confirmation email when you book your place. |
- | * 09:30 Members arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
- | * 10:00 Group news and events update | + | |
- | * 10:15 Introduction to Arduino | + | |
- | * 11:15 Coffee Break | + | |
- | * 11:30 Case studies of Arduino in model railway projects | + | |
- | * 12:30 Lunch | + | |
- | * 13:30 Kit locker news - Judi Rastall | + | |
- | * 14:00 Afternoon practical sessions, including: | + | |
- | + | ||
- | A chance to talk in more detail with our speakers | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Various Arduino demos by MERG members and others | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Our usual practical problem solving clinic session | + | |
- | + | ||
- | 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 " | + | |
- | + | ||
- | A selection of MERG 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 running weekend including Thomas the Tank Engine, it may be very busy. For that reason, we have scheduled lunch fairly early, and we will probably make arrangements to pre-order during the morning. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | The meeting room is step-free accessible. If you need a disabled parking space reserved close up, please let us know. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | 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 Area group section of the MERG forum. You will get a reply in due course with full address details and directions to the venue. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | 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. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ---- | + | |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | ====== AUGUST 2019 East Midlands area group meeting ====== | + | |
- | + | ||
- | **Saturday 17th August 2019 from 10:00** | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Kindly hosted by David Straker at his place in Leicester. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Weather permitting, there will be an opportunity to see and operate David' | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Collection can be arranged from Leicester station for those who would like to come by train. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Tea and coffee will be provided, please bring your own packed lunch. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | The meeting is on the ground floor and easily accessible with no steps. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | ---- | + | |
**AGENDA** | **AGENDA** | ||
Line 818: | Line 526: | ||
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 |
- | * 10:40 Introductions and group news | + | * 10:35 - Introduction to the Kingsway Model Railway Society - Roger barker |
- | * 10:50 Kit locker Update | + | * 10:45 - My CBUS & JMRI journey - Julian Pratt (held over from the previous meeting) |
- | * 11:15 Short coffee break | + | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break |
- | * 11:30 CBUS enhancements to JMRI, demo and discussion | + | * 11:45 - Kit locker update - news about MERG kits - Judi Rastall |
- | * 12:15 Finding your way around the MERG website, forum and wiki - Pete Brownlow | + | * 12:15 - CBUS update - developments |
- | * 13:00 Lunch - bring your own packed lunch (tea and coffee provided) | + | |
- | * 13:30 A chance to operate David Straker' | + | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK |
- | * in parallel with: | + | |
- | * 13:30 Making it work - our usual problem solving clinic | + | |
- | * 16:00 “Wrap up” discussion, confirm next meeting | + | * 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. |
+ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
- | If you would like to bring anything to run on David' | + | 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. |
- | + | ||
- | There will be some kits available for purchase, but we 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. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | If you would like to come by train, please let us know if you need a lift from the station. If coming by train, please | + | |
- | + | ||
- | All visitors, and MERG members from outside the East Midlands, are always welcome at our area group meetings. | + | |
+ | (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** | ||
- | ====== SUMMER 2019 East Midlands area group meeting | + | This meeting |
- | **Sunday 7th July 2019 from 10:00** | + | Thanks to MERG and Bassetlaw Railway Society member Julian Pratt for arranging the venue for us. |
- | Kindly hosted by Julie and Brian Chapman at their place in Skegness. | + | The Bassetlaw Railway Society are not charging us for the use of the room, but we will ask for a donation of £2 per head to cover the cost of teas & coffees |
- | Collection can be arranged from Skegness | + | Parking is available in the station |
- | Full details and directions to the venue will be confirmed to those attending. | + | 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. |
- | **AGENDA** | + | Numbers |
- | + | ||
- | The meeting | + | |
- | + | ||
- | * 10:00 Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | + | |
- | * 10:30 Introductions, Group news, future meetings etc. | + | |
- | * 10:45 Driving and firing | + | |
- | * 11:45 Short tea/coffee break | + | |
- | * 12:00 Report on a recent visit to Minatur Wunderland with some photos and video - Pete Brownlow | + | |
- | * 12:45 Kit locker update - Judi Rastall | + | |
- | + | ||
- | * 13:00 Lunch | + | |
- | + | ||
- | * 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 to our hosts | + | |
---- | ---- | ||
- | |||
- | 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 the afternoon clinic as a demonstration for everyone. | ||
- | |||
- | 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. | ||
- | |||
- | Julie and Brian can accommodate a maximum of 20 people, so it will be first come first served for booking a place. | ||
- | |||
- | 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. | ||
- | |||
- | The venue is accessible. There are two steps but wheelchair ramps are available if required. If you need a parking space reserved on Brian' | ||
- | |||
- | 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. | ||
- | |||
- | 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. | ||
- | |||
- | For those who have already indicated you would like to come, I will be sending out confirmation emails over the next few days. | ||
- | |||
- | ---- | ||
- | |||
- | ====== EASTER 2019 East Midlands area group meeting ====== | ||
- | |||
- | **Saturday 20th April 2019 from 10:00** | ||
- | |||
- | Our next meeting is Kindly hosted by the Kingsway Model Railway Society (KMRS) in Wellingborough. | ||
- | |||
- | KMRS is a small club that has a room in the Kingsway Centre in Wellingborough, | ||
- | |||
- | Normally it is not possible to hire the meeting room at weekends, as there are regular weekly meetings on Saturdays and Sundays by a language class and a dance school. | ||
- | |||
- | However, neither of these organisations are meeting on Easter Saturday 20th April, so we have been able to hire the room. | ||
- | |||
- | Collection can be arranged from Wellingborough station for those who would like to come by train. | ||
- | |||
- | 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/ | ||
- | |||
- | There is a Sainsbury' | ||
- | |||
- | 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. | ||
- | |||
- | ---- | ||
**AGENDA** | **AGENDA** | ||
Line 930: | Line 574: | ||
* 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 | ||
- | * 11:00 - CBUS update, developments and news - by Pete Brownlow | + | * 10:40 - The Bassetlaw (North Notts) Railway Society |
+ | * 10:50 - Different cabs for the MERG DCC system - Simon West, John Gowers & Pete Brownlow | ||
* 11:30 - Tea/coffee break | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break | ||
- | * 11:45 - Setting up JMRI routes with CBUS by Graham Clark | + | * 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 | ||
- | JMRI is a free software program for computer control, Graham will show how he used it to set up routing using the MERG CBUS system. Graham is bring a demo board, and invites questions and discussion after his presentation. | + | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK |
- | * 12:30 MERG DCC and CBUS on the KMRS 00 layout | + | * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations, |
- | Pete will describe his experiences, | ||
- | * 13:15 - LUNCH BREAK | + | 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. |
- | * 14:30 - 16:00 ish - Making it work - Practical workshop session and problem | + | During the afternoon John Gowers will provide a soldering |
+ | 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. | ||
- | ---- | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+ | 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 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. | ||
- | For the practical sessions, as we have done before, if you have built something and/or would like any help and advice, please bring it along and we'll work on it with you as a demonstration for everyone. | + | (Those who have already |
- | + | ||
- | 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! | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Although the main presentations are quite CBUS-centric this time, we will of course cover anything and everything during the afternoon workshop session. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | 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 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. | + | |
---- | ---- | ||
+ | ====== JANUARY 2022 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ====== | ||
- | ====== FEBRUARY 2019 East Midlands | + | Here is the agenda for our January 2022 online |
- | **Saturday | + | **Saturday |
- | Our next meeting | + | This 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 is not planning | + | As before, we have found that breaks of roughly 10-15 mins per hour worked well, to avoid people getting fatigued from staring |
- | + | ||
- | 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 £2 per head to cover teas/ | + | |
- | + | ||
- | I will check and confirm if the buffet on site will be open on that day, serving refreshments, | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Steam trains will be running on the day between Butterley and Swanwick Junction, however the first train is not until 11:00 so too late to use it as transport to the meeting. Details of the timetable can be found here http:// | + | |
- | + | ||
- | 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 a standard wheelchair, but will not take the larger mobility scooters. When confirming your place, please let us know if you have any mobility requirements. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | ---- | + | |
**AGENDA** | **AGENDA** | ||
Line 988: | Line 616: | ||
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 | + | * 10:00 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/ |
- | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | + | * 10:30 - Welcome and Introductions |
- | * 10:45 - Decoder Pro - by Colin Head | + | * 10:45 - - CBUS miscellany - Pete Brownlow |
- | | + | |
+ | * Using RFID and Railcom in JMRI | ||
+ | * CBUS control panels for Burnden Park | ||
+ | * Any other CBUS updates | ||
- | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break | + | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) |
- | * 12:00 - CBUS on Kimble | + | * 11:45 - Kit locker update - Judi Rastall |
+ | * 12:00 - Lunch break | ||
+ | * 13:00 - QnA and anyone looking for advice and help on any projects | ||
- | * 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, what is coming soon. | + | 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. |
- | * 13:30 - LUNCH BREAK | + | If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS-> |
- | * 14:30 - 16:30 ish - Making it work - Practical session and problem clinic | + | Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page. |
- | ---- | + | If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https:// |
+ | 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. | ||
- | During introductions, | + | I will send out the usual reminder email to everyone subscribed |
- | 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. | + | ---- |
- | 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 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. | + | ====== Details of Earlier |
- | (Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the next day or so.) | + | [[areagroups: |
+ | and [[areagroups: | ||
+ | NB. These links are for MERG members only. | ||
- | ---- | ||
- | |||
- | ====== Details of Earlier East Midlands Area Group meetings ====== | ||
- | [[public: | ||
+ | {{tag> |
public/eastmids.txt · Last modified: 2024/05/03 21:37 by PeteB