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:// | ||
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---- | ---- | ||
- | ====== | + | ====== |
- | **Saturday 20th April 2019 from 10:00** | + | Here is the agenda for our March 2024 area group meeting. |
- | Our next meeting is Kindly hosted by the Kingsway Model Railway Society (KMRS) in Wellingborough. | + | **Saturday 16th March 2024 from 10:00** |
- | KMRS is a small club that has a room in the Kingsway Centre in Wellingborough, | + | This meeting |
- | Normally it is not possible | + | Thanks |
- | However, neither of these organisations | + | The Bassetlaw Railway Society |
- | Collection can be arranged from Wellingborough station for those who would like to come by train. | + | Access is step free, but the entry door to the clubrooms is probably not wide enough for a powered wheelchair. |
- | 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/ | + | For those coming by train, there are reasonable arrivals from east (9:50), west (9: |
- | There is a Sainsbury' | + | Parking is now: £6.25 at the station, £4.95 at [[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. | ||
+ | |||
+ | 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. | ||
+ | |||
+ | More details of parking and how to find the clubrooms will be included in your confirmation email when you book your place. | ||
- | 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. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
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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 | ||
- | * 11:00 - CBUS update, developments and news - by Pete Brownlow | + | |
- | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break | + | * 10:50 - MERG news - John Gowers (MERG chairman) |
- | * 11:45 - Setting up JMRI routes with CBUS by Graham Clark | + | |
+ | * 11:45 - Tea/coffee break | ||
+ | * 12:00 - The Raspberry Pi Pico - David Jones | ||
+ | * 12:45 - Kit locker update - Judi Rastall | ||
+ | * 13:15 - LUNCH BREAK | ||
+ | * | ||
+ | * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic. | ||
- | JMRI is a free software program for computer control, Graham | + | During the afternoon our chairman, John Gowers, will be on hand to answer any questions |
- | * 12:30 MERG DCC and CBUS on the KMRS 00 layout | + | The Bassetlaw Railway Society modelling rooms will be open, where the main 00 gauge layout |
- | Pete will describe his experiences, | + | We will of course have our usual problem clinic providing General help on problems |
- | * 13:15 - 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, 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. | ||
- | * 14:30 - 16:00 ish - Making it work - Practical workshop session and problem clinic | + | (Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the week before the meeting). |
---- | ---- | ||
+ | ====== January 2024 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ====== | ||
- | 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 | + | Here is the agenda |
- | 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! | + | **Saturday 20th January 2024 from 10:00** |
- | Although the main presentations are quite CBUS-centric this time, we will of course cover anything and everything during the afternoon workshop session. | + | This 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 | + | As before, we have found that regular breaks |
- | 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. | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+ | **AGENDA** | ||
+ | |||
+ | The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times: | ||
+ | |||
+ | * 10:00 - Get connected, Informal chat | ||
+ | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | ||
+ | * 10:45 - Essex Brick part 2 - getting into using YAAT for automation - Eddy | ||
+ | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) | ||
+ | * 11:45 - My initial exploration of the Hornby HM7000 system - David Page | ||
+ | * 12:15 - QnA on the above talks | ||
+ | * 12:30 - Kit and other news | ||
+ | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK | ||
+ | * 14:00 on - General QnA and help clinic | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
+ | |||
+ | 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. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
- | ====== FEBRUARY 2019 East Midlands area group meeting ====== | ||
- | **Saturday 23rd February 2019 from 10:00** | ||
- | Our next meeting | + | ====== December 2023 East Midlands ONLINE area group 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 to come to this meeting, but could help with the MERG stand at Newark on the Saturday, or if anyone can help at that show on Sunday, then please contact the exhibition manger on exhibitions@merg.org.uk | + | Here is the agenda |
- | + | ||
- | 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. | + | **Saturday 9th December from 10:00** |
- | We will ask for a donation of £2 per head to cover teas/ | + | This meeting |
- | I will check and confirm if the buffet on site will be open on that day, serving refreshments, | + | As before, we have found that regular breaks of roughly 10-15 mins worked well, to avoid people getting fatigued from staring at their screens, so we will plan to do the same again. |
- | 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 | + | **AGENDA** |
+ | |||
+ | The meeting | ||
+ | |||
+ | * 10:00 - Get connected, Informal chat | ||
+ | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | ||
+ | * 10:45 - Essex Brick a lockdown to exhibition layout - Eddy | ||
+ | * 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 | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
+ | |||
+ | 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 ====== | ||
+ | |||
+ | **Saturday 21st October 2023 from 10:00** | ||
+ | |||
+ | The meeting is Kindly hosted by the Nene Valley Railway at Wansford. Thanks to MERG and NVR member Russ Jenner for arranging the venue for us. | ||
+ | |||
+ | 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, I will confirm arrangements, | ||
+ | |||
+ | If the Wifi at the venue is working well enough, we will endeavour to have a Zoom connection for the morning meeting, for those who cannot come in person. However, the meeting will be optimised for those who manage to get along, who will get the best experience. | ||
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* 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 |
- | * 10:45 - Decoder Pro - by Colin Head | + | * 10:35 - Group news and Introductions |
+ | * 10:45 - CBUS and JMRI at Gwynne Junction | ||
+ | * 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 and practical problems help clinic | ||
- | * 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 | + | ---- |
- | * 12:00 - CBUS on Kimble | + | |
- | * John will describe his trials | + | 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. |
- | * 13:00 - MERG Kit locker Update - Judi Rastall – News on new/updated kits, availability, | + | If he can get the 00 layout running for the afternoon he will do so. |
- | * 13:30 - LUNCH BREAK | + | Short trips to the NVR shed will be available during the afternoon. |
+ | |||
+ | 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. | ||
+ | |||
+ | 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. | ||
+ | |||
+ | (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.) | ||
- | * 14:30 - 16:30 ish - Making it work - Practical session and problem clinic | ||
---- | ---- | ||
+ | ====== JULY 2023 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ====== | ||
+ | **Saturday 8th July 2023 from 10:00** | ||
- | During introductions, we like to go round the room and each member can give a very brief summary (about 30 seconds max) of who they are, where they are from, what they are modelling in. Also please tell us what subject you would like to see at a future meeting. | + | Due to Judi's building work not being complete in time, we have swapped |
- | For the practical sessions, as we have done before, if you have built something | + | This meeting will now be at Aisthorpe Village Hall, near Lincoln, Kindly hosted by Lincoln & District Model Railway Club (L& |
- | 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! | + | Thanks to Richard Joyce for organising |
- | 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 | + | Tea and Coffee |
- | (Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the next day or so.) | + | 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. |
+ | Provided the Internet connection at the venue is working well, 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. | ||
- | ====== AUGUST MERG East Midlands area group 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. |
- | **Saturday 11th August 2018 from 10:00** | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
- | Kindly hosted by David Straker at his place in Leicester. | + | **AGENDA** |
- | Weather permitting, there will be an opportunity to see and operate David' | + | The meeting |
- | Collection can be arranged from Leicester station for those who would like to come by train. | + | * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members |
+ | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | ||
+ | * 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 | ||
+ | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break | ||
+ | * 11:45 - Update on FCU development (CBUS FLim Config Utility) - Julian Pratt | ||
+ | * 12:15 - Kit locker update - Judi Rastall | ||
+ | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK | ||
+ | * 14:00 - 16:00 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic - including FCU tutorial if requested | ||
- | Tea and coffee will be provided, please bring your own packed lunch, | + | There should also be a chance to see some of the L&DMRC layouts. |
- | The meeting is on the ground floor and easily accessible | + | We will of course have our usual problem clinic providing General help on problems |
+ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
+ | If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. I will add you to the list and, in the week before the meeting, you will get a reply with full details, directions to the venue and parking information. Even if you are not sure yet whether you can get along, please let us know anyway so we can plan for likely numbers. | ||
- | ---- | + | Please book a place rather than just turning up on spec, if there are any last minute changes we need to know who is coming so that we can contact you. |
+ | (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 ====== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Here is the agenda for our May 2023 online Zoom area group meeting. | ||
+ | |||
+ | **Saturday 27th May 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 Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | + | * 10:00 - Get connected, Informal chat |
- | * 10:30 Welcome | + | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions |
- | * 10:45 Introductions | + | * 10:45 - MERG and kit locker |
- | * 11:10 Kit locker Update | + | * 11:00 - FCU (CBUS Config utility) - development news and status - Pete Brownlow |
- | * 11:30 Short coffee break | + | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) |
- | * 11:45 What I'm doing and planning with DCC and CBUS - Pete Brownlow | + | * 11:45 - WebFCU (alternative |
+ | * 12:15 - From the MERG chairman - John Gowers | ||
+ | * 12:45 - MERG AGM event - possible East Mids Area group involvement | ||
+ | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK | ||
+ | * 14:00 on - General QnA and help clinic | ||
+ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
- | * 12:30 Lunch - bring your own packed lunch (tea and coffee provided) | + | For the QnA sessions, if you have built something |
+ | If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS-> | ||
- | * 13:30 A chance to operate David Straker's ' | + | Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page. |
- | * in parallel | + | |
- | * 13:30 Making it work - our usual problem solving clinic | + | |
+ | If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https:// | ||
- | * 16:00 “Wrap up” discussion, confirm next meeting and thanks | + | 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 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** | ||
- | This will the last meeting | + | Here is the agenda for our April 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 from the kit locker and specify collection | + | This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Kingsway Model Railway Society (KMRS) |
- | For the clinic session, as we have done before, if you have built something | + | We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/ |
- | 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 | + | The venue has level step free access |
- | 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. | + | 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. |
- | All visitors, and MERG members from outside | + | 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 |
+ | 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** | ||
- | ====== SUMMER 2018 MERG East Midlands area group meeting ====== | + | * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members |
+ | * 10:30 - Welcome, | ||
+ | * 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 | ||
- | **Sunday 15th July 2018 from 10:00** | + | The Kingsway Model Railway Society |
- | Kindly hosted by Judi Rastall at her place in Sutton on Sea. | + | Feel free if you want to bring something to run, the 00 layouts are DCC, the N gauge layout is analogue. |
- | Come to the seaside for our Summer meeting! The weather forecast is hot and sunny. | + | 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. |
+ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
- | 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 | + | 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 |
- | Judi can accommodate | + | Please book a place rather than just turning |
+ | Regards, | ||
- | 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. | + | Pete |
- | Most of you will know that Judi is our Kit Sales Manager. This is an opportunity to see the huge MERG kit operation, how Judi manages the stock, processes the orders and sends out all those kits. | ||
- | 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. | ||
- | 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. | ||
- | 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. | + | ====== SEPTEMBER 2022 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ====== |
+ | **Saturday 3rd September 2022 from 10:00** | ||
+ | |||
+ | Here is the agenda for our September meeting. | ||
+ | |||
+ | This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Kingsway Model Railway Society 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. 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. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
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The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times: | The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times: | ||
- | * 10:00 Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | + | * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members |
- | * 10:30 Introductions and group news | + | * 10:30 - Welcome, |
- | * 11:00 The Great Model Railway | + | * 10:40 - Introduction to the Kingsway |
- | * 11:45 Short coffee break | + | * 10:45 - Turntable Tales - My journey so far with the Peco Turntable and MERG Turntable Controller - kit John Wood\\ (Also includes using Julian' |
- | * 12:00 Update from the committee – Martin Perry | + | * 11:15 - Tea/coffee break |
- | * 12:30 MERG kit news by Judi Rastall – News on new/updated kits, availability, | + | * 11:30 - DCC and CBUS new developments with live demo - Pete Brownlow\\ (Including new features in CANCMD, CANCOMPUTE and development news on CANMIO (Universal) ) |
- | * 12:30 Progress on my layout | + | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK |
- | * 13:15 Lunch - Fish and chips from the local shops or bring your own | + | * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations |
- | * 14:30 Afternoon sessions: | + | 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. Pete will also have the Missenden St Mary's layout |
- | * - The MERG kit locker by Judi Rastall – guided tours | + | |
- | * - Running session on Judi' | + | |
- | * - Making it work - our usual problem solving clinic | + | |
- | * - Help with soldering | + | |
- | * - Or just relax in the sunshine in the garden | + | |
- | ---- | + | 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. | ||
- | Kits will, of course, be available for purchase. If you have specific requirements, | + | ---- |
- | 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. | ||
- | The venue is reasonably accessible, there are a couple | + | 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 |
- | To access the loft layout, you do need to be able to climb up the loft ladder, | + | 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 |
- | 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. | + | (Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails |
+ | ---- | ||
+ | ====== JULY 2022 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ====== | ||
- | 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 of the MERG forum. You will get a reply in due course with full address details and directions to the venue. | + | **Saturday 9th July 2022 from 10:00** |
- | If you have already emailed or posted that you are coming, you should get your confirmation email in the next few days. | + | The meeting is Kindly hosted by the Nene Valley Railway at Wansford. Thanks to MERG and NVR member Russ Jenner for arranging the venue for us. |
- | ---- | + | 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. | ||
- | ====== MAY 2018 MERG 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 26th May 2018 from 9:30** | + | 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. |
- | Kindly hosted by the Nene Valley Railway in their Study Centre meeting room at Wansford | ||
- | Thanks to Russ Jenner for organising the venue for us. | + | ---- |
- | These arrangements are provisional, | ||
**AGENDA** | **AGENDA** | ||
- | With lots of good stuff on the agenda, We've gone for a slightly earlier start - since most people usually get there early anyway! | + | The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times: |
+ | * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | ||
+ | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | ||
+ | * 10:40 - 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 | ||
+ | |||
+ | * 13:30 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic | ||
+ | |||
+ | Note: " | ||
---- | ---- | ||
- | * 09:00 Members arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | + | 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. |
- | * 09:30 Introductions and group news | + | |
- | * 09:45 Introduction to the CBUS CANMIO - Pete Brownlow | + | |
- | * 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 practical clinics: | + | |
- | * Setting up the Universal CANMIO with Ian Hogg | + | |
- | * 3D printing with Howard Watkins | + | |
- | * General kit problem solving | + | |
+ | 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. | ||
+ | |||
+ | 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 ====== | ||
+ | **Saturday | ||
- | 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 Kingsway Model Railway Society 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. There is a co-op shop a few minutes walk away. | ||
+ | |||
+ | 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. | ||
+ | |||
+ | More details of parking and how to find the venue will be included in your confirmation email when you book your place. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
+ | |||
+ | **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, 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 | ||
- | Kits will be available for purchase. If you have specific requirements, | + | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK |
- | The NVR cafe will be open from about 8:30 for bacon butties or full breakfast, and also open at lunchtime. However, as it is a bank holiday running weekend at NVR, it may be very busy. For that reason, we have scheduled lunch early, and we may make arrangements to pre-order during the morning. | + | * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic |
- | The meeting room is step-free accessible. If you need a disabled parking space reserved close up, please let us know. | + | 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. |
- | For those who would like to come by train, we can arrange to collect you from Peterborough station | + | 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 |
- | 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 | + | If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands |
+ | (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** | ||
- | ====== FEBRUARY 2018 MERG East Midlands area group meeting | + | This meeting |
- | **Sunday 4th Febrary 2018 from 10:00** | + | Thanks to MERG and Bassetlaw Railway Society member Julian Pratt for arranging the venue for us. |
- | Kindly hosted by the Syston Model Railway Society | + | The Bassetlaw |
- | Thanks | + | Parking is available in the station car park at a cost of £5. You can of course come by train to Retford Station. |
- | Due to when the venue is available, we are trying | + | 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. |
- | Collection can be arranged from Syston station for those who would like to come by train. | + | Numbers will be limited |
- | Tea and coffee will be available. | ||
- | We will ask for a donation of £2 per head to cover the room hire. | + | ---- |
- | The meeting room is on the ground floor and easily accessible. The clubrooms housing the SMRS layouts are upstairs. | ||
**AGENDA** | **AGENDA** | ||
Line 337: | Line 514: | ||
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 to SMRS - by Mike Collins | + | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions |
- | * 10:35 Introductions and group news | + | * 10:40 - The Bassetlaw (North Notts) Railway Society - Julian Pratt |
- | * 11:00 Update on progress with my new automated layout by Colin Head | + | * 10:50 - Different cabs for the MERG DCC system - Simon West, John Gowers & Pete Brownlow |
- | * 11:30 Tea/coffee break (or recovery time if we are running late) | + | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break |
- | * 11:45 Kit locker update | + | * 11:45 - Different cabs for the MERG DCC system - continued |
- | * 12:15 What's new and coming soon in JMRI latest versions | + | * 12:15 - Kit locker update - Judi Rastall |
- | * 13:00 Lunch - Bring your own | + | * 12:30 - My CBUS & JMRI journey |
- | Also a chance to see the SMRS layouts on site | + | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK |
- | * 14:00 Making it work - practical | + | * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations, |
- | * 16:30 Wrap-up discussion, confirm next meeting and thanks | + | |
- | * 16:35 Carry on with anything else we havn't fixed yet until we get thown out! | + | |
+ | The cabs session will cover basic how to use the MERG DCC system, circuit designs, the standard | ||
+ | |||
+ | During the afternoon John Gowers will provide a soldering clinic, both through hole and surface mount. | ||
+ | |||
+ | 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 | ||
---- | ---- | ||
+ | ====== JANUARY 2022 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ====== | ||
+ | Here is the agenda for our January 2022 online area group meeting. | ||
- | Kits will be available for purchase. If you have specific requirements, | + | **Saturday 15th January |
- | 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. | + | This meeting will be online using Zoom. |
- | 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! | + | 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. |
- | If we didn't quite have time to get your project properly sorted at the last meeting, please bring it along again and you will be top of the list. | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
- | If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. You will get a reply in due course with full address details, directions to the venue and parking information. Let us know if you need a lift from the station. | + | **AGENDA** |
- | MERG members | + | The meeting will be informal |
+ | |||
+ | * 10:00 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/ | ||
+ | * 10:30 - Welcome and Introductions | ||
+ | * 10:45 - - CBUS miscellany - Pete Brownlow | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Latest CANMO (Universal) firmware release | ||
+ | * Using RFID and Railcom in JMRI | ||
+ | * CBUS control panels for Burnden Park | ||
+ | * Any other CBUS updates | ||
+ | |||
+ | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) | ||
+ | * 11:45 - Kit locker update - Judi Rastall | ||
+ | * 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-> | ||
+ | |||
+ | Please | ||
+ | |||
+ | 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 to everyone subscribed to the area group soon, it will go automatically to everyone who is subscribed to this area group. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
- | [[public: | ||
+ | ====== Details of Earlier East Midlands Area Group meetings ====== | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[areagroups: | ||
+ | and [[areagroups: | ||
+ | NB. These links are for MERG members only. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | {{tag> |
public/eastmids.1554414318.txt.gz · Last modified: 2019/04/04 21:45 by PeteB