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 - Brian Norris, 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:// | ||
- | ---- | + | ====== December 2023 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ====== |
- | ====== EASTER 2019 East Midlands | + | Here is the agenda for our December 2023 online Zoom area group meeting. |
- | **Saturday | + | **Saturday |
- | Our next meeting | + | This meeting |
- | 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 | + | As before, we have found that regular breaks |
- | 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. | + | **AGENDA** |
- | Collection can be arranged from Wellingborough station for those who would like to come by train. | + | The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times: |
- | 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/coffees biscuits etc. for the day. Any excess over the costs will be donated to KMRS. | + | * 10:00 - Get connected, Informal chat |
+ | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | ||
+ | * 10:45 - Essex Brick a lockdown | ||
+ | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) | ||
+ | * 11:45 - Update on my developments with DCC, CBUS and JMRI - Pete Brownlow | ||
+ | * 12:45 - QnA | ||
+ | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK | ||
+ | * 14:00 on - General QnA and help clinic | ||
- | There is a Sainsbury' | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
- | The venue is level access | + | 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. |
+ | |||
+ | 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. | ||
+ | |||
+ | I will send out the usual reminder email, it will go automatically to everyone who is subscribed to this area group. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | ====== OCTOBER 2023 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ====== | ||
- | **AGENDA** | + | **Saturday 21st October 2023 from 10:00** |
- | The meeting | + | The meeting |
- | * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | + | We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover both the venue hire and teas/coffees for the day. If we collect more than the cost of hiring the venue and supplying refreshments, |
- | * 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 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. | + | The venue has level step free access and good parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know. |
- | * 12:30 MERG DCC and CBUS on the KMRS 00 layout | + | There is a cafe on site, I will confirm arrangements, |
- | Pete will describe his experiences, | + | 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, |
- | * 13:15 - LUNCH BREAK | + | ---- |
- | | + | **AGENDA** |
+ | |||
+ | 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 to NVR and housekeeping - Russ Jenner | ||
+ | * 10:35 - Group news and Introductions | ||
+ | * 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 | ||
+ | * 11:45 - Tea/coffee break | ||
+ | * 12:00 - MERG & kit locker updates - Judi Rastall | ||
+ | * 12:30 - The Universal Experimenters Module - Pete Brownlow | ||
+ | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK | ||
+ | * | ||
+ | * 13:30 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations | ||
---- | ---- | ||
+ | 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. | ||
- | 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 | + | If he can get the 00 layout running |
- | 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! | + | Short trips to the NVR shed will be available during the afternoon. |
- | Although the main presentations are quite CBUS-centric this time, we will of course cover anything and everything during the afternoon workshop session. | + | 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 due course, you will get a reply with full address details, directions to the venue and parking information. | + | 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. |
- | If you are planning to come by train, let us know if you need a lift from Wellingborough | + | 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.) | ||
---- | ---- | ||
+ | ====== JULY 2023 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ====== | ||
- | ====== FEBRUARY 2019 East Midlands area group meeting ====== | + | **Saturday 8th July 2023 from 10:00** |
- | **Saturday 23rd February 2019 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. |
- | Our next meeting | + | This meeting |
- | (See http:// | + | |
- | Firstly an apology | + | Thanks to Richard Joyce for organising |
- | + | ||
- | For our area group meeting, collection can be arranged from a nearby station for those who would like to come by train. | + | |
- | Visitors | + | Tea and Coffee will be available all day, please bring your own packed lunch as there are no other facilities nearby. |
- | We will ask for a donation of £2 per head to cover teas/ | + | We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/ |
- | I will check and confirm if the buffet on site will be open on that day, serving refreshments, | + | The venue has level step free access |
- | 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. |
- | ---- | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
**AGENDA** | **AGENDA** | ||
Line 101: | Line 133: | ||
* 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 | + | * 10:45 - Introduction to the Lincoln & District Model Railway Club - Richard Joyce |
- | + | * 10:50 - The CANPROG - what it is, building one, using it to program PICs - Pete Brownlow | |
- | * 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 | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break | ||
- | * 12:00 - CBUS on Kimble | + | |
+ | | ||
+ | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK | ||
+ | * 14:00 - 16:00 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic | ||
- | * John will describe his trials and tribulations implementing MERG DCC and CBUS on the ' | + | There should also be a chance to see some of the L&DMRC layouts. |
- | * 13:00 - MERG Kit locker Update - Judi Rastall – News on new/ | + | 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. |
+ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
- | * 13:30 - LUNCH BREAK | + | 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. |
- | * 14:30 - 16:30 ish - Making it work - Practical session and problem clinic | + | 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. |
- | ---- | + | (Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the week before the meeting). |
+ | ====== May 2023 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ====== | ||
- | During introductions, | + | Here is the agenda for our May 2023 online Zoom area group meeting. |
- | 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. | + | **Saturday 27th May from 10:00** |
- | 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! | + | This meeting will be online using Zoom. |
- | 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 | + | As before, we have found that breaks |
- | (Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the next day or so.) | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
- | ---- | + | **AGENDA** |
+ | The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times: | ||
- | ====== AUGUST | + | * 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 | ||
+ | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK | ||
+ | * 14:00 on - General QnA and help clinic | ||
- | **Saturday 11th August 2018 from 10:00** | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
- | Kindly hosted by David Straker | + | 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. |
- | Weather permitting, there will be an opportunity | + | If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS-> |
- | Collection can be arranged from Leicester station for those who would like to come by train. | + | Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page. |
- | Tea and coffee will be provided, please bring your own packed lunch, . | + | If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https:// |
- | The meeting is on the ground floor and easily accessible with no steps. | + | If you still can't get the Zoom link, send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk |
+ | 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** | ||
+ | |||
+ | 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. | ||
+ | |||
+ | 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. | ||
+ | |||
+ | 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. | ||
+ | |||
+ | 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. | ||
+ | |||
+ | 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 now how many people to cater for. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
**AGENDA** | **AGENDA** | ||
- | The meeting will be informal | + | * 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 and practical problems help clinic | ||
- | * 10:00 Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | + | The Kingsway Model Railway Society |
- | * 10:30 Welcome - David Straker | + | |
- | * 10:45 Introductions and group news | + | |
- | * 11:10 Kit locker Update - Judi Rastall | + | |
- | * 11:30 Short coffee break | + | |
- | * 11:45 What I'm doing and planning with DCC and CBUS - Pete Brownlow | + | |
+ | Feel free if you want to bring something to run, the 00 layouts are DCC, the N gauge layout is analogue. | ||
- | * 12:30 Lunch - bring your own packed lunch (tea and coffee provided) | + | 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, before the event, 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. | ||
- | * 13:30 A chance | + | 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. |
- | * in parallel with: | + | Regards, |
- | * 13:30 Making it work - our usual problem solving clinic | + | |
+ | Pete | ||
- | * 16:00 “Wrap up” discussion, confirm next meeting and thanks to our host | ||
- | ---- | ||
- | 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. | + | ====== SEPTEMBER 2022 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ====== |
- | 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 | + | **Saturday 3rd September 2022 from 10:00** |
- | 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 | + | Here is the agenda |
- | 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) | + | This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Kingsway Model Railway Society at the Kingsway Centre in Wellingborough. |
- | 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 plan to arrive at Leicester station by 09:30 so that whoever comes to pick you up does not have to miss any of the meeting. | + | We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/ |
- | All visitors, | + | The venue has level step free access |
+ | 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. | ||
- | ---- | + | 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. |
+ | 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. | ||
- | ====== SUMMER 2018 MERG East Midlands area group meeting ====== | + | ---- |
- | **Sunday 15th July 2018 from 10:00** | + | **AGENDA** |
- | Kindly hosted by Judi Rastall at her place in Sutton on Sea. | + | The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times: |
- | Come to the seaside for our Summer meeting! The weather forecast is hot and sunny. | + | * 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 - 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 | ||
+ | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK | ||
- | 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/ | ||
- | 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. | + | * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic |
- | 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 Kingsway Model Railway Society 00 gauge layout |
- | 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 before the start of the peak summer season. Once the school holidays start, from late July, parking becomes much more difficult and there will be long queues on all roads into the resort on a Saturday morning – so come and enjoy the seaside before the mad summer rush. | + | Feel free if you want to bring something to run, |
- | 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. | + | 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. |
- | 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. | + | ---- |
- | 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. | ||
+ | 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. | ||
+ | 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. | ||
+ | |||
+ | (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 ====== | ||
- | **AGENDA** | + | **Saturday 9th July 2022 from 10:00** |
- | The meeting | + | The meeting |
- | * 10:00 Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | + | We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover both the venue hire and teas/coffees for the day. If we collect more than the cost of hiring the venue and supplying refreshments, we will donate the difference to the NVR. |
- | * 10:30 Introductions | + | |
- | * 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 | + | |
+ | The venue has level step free access and good parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know. | ||
- | * 13:15 Lunch - Fish and chips from the local shops or bring your own | + | There is a cafe on site, we will pass the menu around in the morning so you can order lunch if you wish. |
+ | 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. | ||
+ | |||
+ | 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. | ||
- | * 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 | ||
---- | ---- | ||
- | Kits will, of course, be available for purchase. If you have specific requirements, | + | **AGENDA** |
- | 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 | + | The meeting will be informal |
- | The venue is reasonably accessible, there are a couple of shallow steps up through the front door and a step down into the kitchen of 5". The width of the kitchen doorway is 29". Please advise if you need any assistance. | + | * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members |
+ | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | ||
+ | * 10:40 - Developing FCU - progress and challenges, David Radcliffe | ||
+ | * 11:20 - Tea/coffee break | ||
+ | * 11:30 - Colin Head - Demo and progress report on my layout (which has no name yet!) | ||
+ | * 12:10 - MERG & kit locker updates - Judi Rastall | ||
+ | * 12:30 - LUNCH BREAK | ||
- | To access | + | * 13:30 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic |
+ | |||
+ | Note: " | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
- | 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 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 |
- | If you would like to come, and have not already done so, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section | + | 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. |
- | If you have already | + | Those who have already |
---- | ---- | ||
+ | ====== APRIL 2022 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ====== | ||
+ | **Saturday | ||
+ | This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Kingsway Model Railway Society at the Kingsway Centre in Wellingborough. | ||
- | ====== MAY 2018 MERG East Midlands area group meeting ====== | + | We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/ |
- | **Saturday 26th May 2018 from 9:30** | + | The venue has level step free access and good parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know. |
- | Kindly hosted by the Nene Valley Railway in their Study Centre meeting room at Wansford | + | You can either bring a packed lunch or nip out to somewhere locally, |
- | Thanks to Russ Jenner | + | We will have a Zoom connection |
- | These arrangements are provisional, | + | More details |
+ | |||
+ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
**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 | ||
+ | * 10:35 - 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 | ||
- | ---- | + | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK |
- | * 09:00 Members arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | + | * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical |
- | * 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 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 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. | ||
+ | |||
+ | (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** | ||
- | We will ask for £2 per head to cover the room hire cost and £1 each in the " | + | This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Bassetlaw (North Notts) Railway Society at their clubrooms on Retford |
- | Kits will be available | + | Thanks to MERG and Bassetlaw Railway Society member Julian Pratt for arranging |
- | 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, | + | 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 |
- | The meeting room is step-free accessible. If you need a disabled parking space reserved close up, please let us know. | + | Parking |
- | For those who would like to come by train, we can arrange to collect you from Peterborough | + | 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 |
- | 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. | + | Numbers will be limited |
- | 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. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
- | ====== FEBRUARY 2018 MERG East Midlands area group meeting ====== | + | **AGENDA** |
- | **Sunday 4th Febrary 2018 from 10:00** | + | The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times: |
- | Kindly hosted by the Syston Model Railway Society | + | * 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) | ||
+ | * 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 | ||
- | Thanks to SMRS and MERG member Mike Collins for arranging this venue for us. | + | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK |
- | Due to when the venue is available, we are trying a Sunday this time. The Pros are that members who have Saturday commitments, | + | * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations, soldering clinic |
- | Collection can be arranged from Syston station for those who would like to come by train. | ||
- | Tea and coffee | + | The cabs session |
- | We will ask for a donation of £2 per head to cover the room hire. | + | During the afternoon John Gowers |
- | The meeting room is on the ground floor and easily accessible. The clubrooms housing | + | 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. | ||
+ | |||
+ | (Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the next few days.) | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | ====== JANUARY 2022 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ====== | ||
+ | |||
+ | 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. | ||
+ | |||
+ | 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 337: | Line 453: | ||
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 | + | * 10:30 - Welcome |
- | * 10:35 Introductions and group news | + | * 10:45 - - CBUS miscellany |
- | * 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 | + | |
- | * 12:15 What's new and coming soon in JMRI latest versions | + | |
- | * 13:00 Lunch - Bring your own | + | |
- | Also a chance to see the SMRS layouts on site | + | * Latest CANMO (Universal) firmware release |
+ | * Using RFID and Railcom in JMRI | ||
+ | * CBUS control panels for Burnden Park | ||
+ | * Any other CBUS updates | ||
- | * 14:00 Making it work - practical sessions using members projects, MERG kits or anything else. | + | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) |
- | * 16:30 Wrap-up discussion, confirm next meeting and thanks to our hosts | + | * 11:45 - Kit locker update - Judi Rastall |
- | * 16:35 Carry on with anything else we havn't fixed yet until we get thown out! | + | * 12:00 - Lunch break |
+ | * 13:00 - 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 go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS-> | ||
- | Kits will be available for purchase. If you have specific requirements, | + | Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page. |
- | For the practical sessions, as we have done before, if you have built something | + | If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https:// |
- | If you already know what you want help on for this session, please | + | If you still can't get the Zoom link, send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk |
- | 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. | + | I will send out the usual reminder email to everyone subscribed |
- | 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! | ||
- | ---- | + | ====== Details of Earlier East Midlands Area Group meetings ====== |
+ | |||
+ | [[areagroups: | ||
+ | and [[areagroups: | ||
+ | NB. These links are for MERG members only. | ||
- | [[public: | ||
+ | {{tag> |
public/eastmids.txt · Last modified: 2024/05/03 21:37 by PeteB