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:// | ||
---- | ---- | ||
- | ====== MARCH 2020 East Midlands area group meeting ====== | ||
- | **Saturday 14th March 2020 from 10:00** | + | ====== |
- | Our March meeting | + | Here is the agenda for our March 2024 area group meeting. |
- | (See http:// | + | |
- | We will ask for a donation of £2 per head to cover teas/ | + | **Saturday 16th March 2024 from 10:00** |
- | 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. | + | This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Bassetlaw (North Notts) Railway Society at their clubrooms on Retford Railway Station. |
- | 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. | + | Thanks to MERG and Bassetlaw Railway Society member Julian Pratt for arranging |
+ | 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. | ||
- | ---- | + | Access is step free, but the entry door to the clubrooms is probably not wide enough for a powered wheelchair. |
+ | 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 and Newark arriving at (8:45) and one from Kings Cross and Grantham arriving at (8:51), so you will be waiting a while before the meeting starts, but as railway enthusiasts you can of course enjoy watching the trains pass by during your wait. :) | ||
+ | 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. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
**AGENDA** | **AGENDA** | ||
Line 37: | Line 50: | ||
* 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 - The Bassetlaw (North Notts) Railway Society |
- | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break | + | * 10:50 - MERG news - John Gowers (MERG chairman) |
- | * 12:00 - CBUS/CANMIO update & building CBUS modules that are not yet in the kit locker | + | * 11:00 - The CANXIO - Pete Brownlow |
- | * 13:00 - MERG Kit locker | + | * 11:45 - Tea/coffee break |
+ | * 12:00 - The Raspberry Pi Pico - David Jones | ||
+ | * 12:45 - Kit locker | ||
+ | * 13:15 - LUNCH BREAK | ||
+ | * | ||
+ | * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic. | ||
- | * 13:30 - LUNCH BREAK | + | During the afternoon our chairman, John Gowers, will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about MERG committee matters etc. |
- | * 14:30 - 16:30ish - Making it work: Practical session & problem clinic plus demos & Soldering help (inc surface mount) with John Gowers | + | 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. |
+ | 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. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
- | For the practical sessions, as we have done before, | + | If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. I will add you to the list and, a week or so before |
- | 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! | + | (Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the week before 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 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 - Alfreton is the closest. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | (Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the next few days.) | + | |
---- | ---- | ||
- | ====== | + | ====== |
- | **Saturday 26th October 2019 from 9:30** | + | Here is the agenda for our January online Zoom area group meeting. |
- | Kindly hosted by the Nene Valley Railway in their Study Centre meeting room at Wansford | + | **Saturday 20th January 2024 from 10:00** |
- | Thanks to Russ Jenner for organising the venue for us. | + | This meeting will be online using Zoom. |
- | This is an Arduino themed meeting. | + | 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. |
- | ---- | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
**AGENDA** | **AGENDA** | ||
- | * 09:30 Members arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | + | The meeting will be informal |
- | * 10:00 Group news and events update | + | |
- | * 10:15 Introduction to Arduino - Alex Hamilton | + | |
- | * 11:15 Coffee Break | + | |
- | * 11:30 Case studies of Arduino in model railway projects - Duncan Greenwood | + | |
- | * 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 | + | * 10:00 - Get connected, Informal chat |
- | + | | |
- | Various Arduino demos by MERG members | + | |
- | + | | |
- | Our usual practical problem solving clinic session | + | |
- | + | * 12:15 - QnA on the above talks | |
- | We may also have some NVR signal box tours available organised by Russ Jenner | + | * 12:30 - Kit and other news |
+ | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK | ||
+ | * 14:00 on - General QnA and help clinic | ||
- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
- | We will ask for £2 per head to cover the room hire cost and £1 each in the " | + | For the help clinic session |
- | A selection of MERG kits will be available for purchase. | + | If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select |
- | The NVR cafe will be open from about 8:30 for bacon butties or full breakfast, and also open at lunchtime. However, as it is a running weekend including Thomas | + | Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page. |
- | The meeting room is step-free accessible. If you need a disabled parking space reserved close up, please | + | If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https:// |
- | For those who would like to come by train, we can arrange to collect you from Peterborough station or, if you can get there early enough, I can collect from Wellingborough station on my way to the meeting about 7:30am. | + | If you still can' |
- | If you would like to come, please | + | I will send out the usual reminder |
- | + | ||
- | Members from outside the East Midlands are always welcome at our meetings, as are visitors. Please just let us know you are coming so we can plan for the numbers expected. | + | |
---- | ---- | ||
- | ====== AUGUST 2019 East Midlands area group meeting ====== | ||
- | **Saturday 17th August 2019 from 10:00** | + | ====== December 2023 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ====== |
- | Kindly hosted by David Straker at his place in Leicester. | + | Here is the agenda for our December 2023 online Zoom area group meeting. |
- | Weather permitting, there will be an opportunity to see and operate David' | + | **Saturday 9th December from 10:00** |
- | Collection can be arranged from Leicester station for those who would like to come by train. | + | This meeting will be online using Zoom. |
- | Tea and coffee will be provided, please bring your own packed lunch. | + | 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. |
- | The meeting is on the ground floor and easily accessible with no steps. | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
- | + | ||
- | + | ||
- | ---- | + | |
**AGENDA** | **AGENDA** | ||
Line 132: | Line 136: | ||
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, |
- | * 10:40 Introductions and group news | + | * 10:45 - Essex Brick a lockdown to exhibition layout - Eddy |
- | * 10:50 Kit locker Update | + | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) |
- | * 11:15 Short coffee break | + | * 11:45 - Update on my developments with DCC, CBUS and JMRI - Pete Brownlow |
- | * 11:30 CBUS enhancements to JMRI, demo and discussion | + | |
- | * 12:15 Finding your way around the MERG website, forum and wiki - Pete Brownlow | + | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK |
- | * 13:00 Lunch - bring your own packed lunch (tea and coffee provided) | + | * 14:00 on - General QnA and help clinic |
- | * 13:30 A chance to operate David Straker' | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
- | * in parallel with: | + | |
- | * 13:30 Making it work - our usual problem solving clinic | + | |
- | * 16:00 “Wrap up” discussion, confirm next meeting | + | For the help clinic session in the afternoon, if you have built something |
+ | 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 would like to bring anything to run on David's layout, it is 'O' gauge with dead track, so battery and radio control is usually | + | 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 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 | + | I will send out the usual reminder email, it will go automatically |
- | 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. | + | ---- |
+ | ---- | ||
+ | ====== OCTOBER 2023 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE 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 with full address details and directions to the venue. (If you have already done so - your confirmation email should arrive in the next day or two) | + | **Saturday 21st October 2023 from 10:00** |
- | 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 about 09:45 so that whoever comes to pick you up does not have to miss any of the meeting. | + | The meeting is Kindly hosted |
- | All visitors, | + | 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, | ||
- | ====== SUMMER 2019 East Midlands area group meeting | + | If the Wifi at the venue is working well enough, we will endeavour to have a Zoom connection for the morning |
- | **Sunday 7th July 2019 from 10:00** | + | ---- |
- | + | ||
- | Kindly hosted by Julie and Brian Chapman at their place in Skegness. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Collection can be arranged from Skegness station for those who would like to come by train. | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Full details and directions to the venue will be confirmed to those attending. | + | |
**AGENDA** | **AGENDA** | ||
Line 180: | Line 181: | ||
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, | + | * 10:30 - Welcome to NVR and housekeeping - Russ Jenner |
- | * 10:45 Driving | + | * 10:35 - Group news and Introductions |
- | * 11:45 Short tea/coffee break | + | * 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 |
- | * 12:00 Report on a recent visit to Minatur Wunderland with some photos and video - Pete Brownlow | + | * 11:45 - Tea/coffee break |
- | * 12:45 Kit locker update | + | * 12:00 - MERG & kit locker updates - Judi Rastall |
- | + | * 12:30 - The Universal Experimenters Module - Pete Brownlow | |
- | * 13:00 Lunch | + | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK |
- | + | * | |
- | * 14:00 Making it work - practical sessions and problem clinic on any members projects, MERG kits or anything else. | + | * 13:30 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations |
- | * 16:00 Final discussion, confirm next meeting | + | |
---- | ---- | ||
+ | During the afternoon, as well as our usual help and problem solving clinic, Russ advises that the railwayana shop at NVR will be open which now has quite a lot of double 00 and a few N and O gauge second hand stock. | ||
- | 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 | + | If he can get the 00 layout running for the afternoon |
- | + | ||
- | 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, | + | |
- | 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. | + | Short trips to the NVR shed will be available during |
- | The venue is accessible. There are two steps but wheelchair ramps are available if required. If you need a parking space reserved on Brian' | + | It is a running day at NVR with 3 trains, pulled by W D Austerity. |
- | Tea/Coffee and biscuits will be available all day, bacon butties will be available | + | If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message |
- | Let us know if you need a lift from the station. | + | Let us know if you need a lift from Peterborough |
- | If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message | + | (Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I have noted you and I will be sending out confirmation emails |
- | For those who have already indicated you would like to come, I will be sending out confirmation emails over the next few days. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
+ | ====== JULY 2023 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ====== | ||
- | ====== EASTER 2019 East Midlands area group meeting ====== | + | **Saturday 8th July 2023 from 10:00** |
- | **Saturday 20th April 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 |
- | KMRS is a small club that has a room in the Kingsway Centre in Wellingborough, | + | Thanks to Richard Joyce for organising |
- | 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. | + | Tea and Coffee will be available all day, please bring your own packed lunch as there are no other facilities nearby. |
- | However, neither | + | We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/ |
- | Collection can be arranged from Wellingborough station for those who would like to come by train. | + | The venue has level step free access and reasonable parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know. |
- | 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/ | + | 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. |
- | There is a Sainsbury' | + | 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. |
- | 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** | ||
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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 | + | * 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 | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break | ||
- | * 11:45 - Setting up JMRI routes with CBUS by Graham Clark | + | * 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 | ||
- | 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. | + | There should also be a chance |
- | * 12:30 MERG DCC and CBUS on the KMRS 00 layout | + | 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. |
+ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
- | Pete will describe his experiences, tribulations and future plans installing | + | 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. |
- | * 13:15 - LUNCH BREAK | + | 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. |
- | * 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). |
+ | ====== 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** | ||
- | 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. | + | 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. |
- | 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. 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. | + | **AGENDA** |
- | 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. | + | 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 - MERG and kit locker news | ||
+ | * 11:00 - FCU (CBUS Config utility) - development news and status - Pete Brownlow | ||
+ | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!) | ||
+ | * 11:45 - WebFCU (alternative CBUS config utility) - David Ellis | ||
+ | * 12:15 - From the MERG chairman - John Gowers | ||
+ | * 12:45 - MERG AGM event - possible East Mids Area group involvement | ||
+ | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK | ||
+ | * 14:00 on - General QnA and help clinic | ||
- | ---- | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
- | ====== FEBRUARY 2019 East Midlands area group 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 23rd February 2019 from 10:00** | + | If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS-> |
- | Our next meeting is Kindly hosted by the Historical Model Railway Society (HMRS) at their Museum and Study Centre located at The Midland Railway Centre, Swanwick Junction. | + | Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page. |
- | (See http:// | + | |
- | Firstly an apology | + | If you cannot see the details |
- | + | ||
- | 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. | + | 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. |
- | We will ask for a donation of £2 per head to cover teas/ | + | I will send out the usual reminder email to everyone subscribed |
- | I will check and confirm if the buffet on site will be open on that day, serving refreshments, | + | ---- |
+ | ====== APRIL 2023 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ====== | ||
- | 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:// | + | **Saturday 8th April 2023 from 10:00** |
- | 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. | + | Here is the agenda for our April meeting. |
- | ---- | + | This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Kingsway Model Railway Society (KMRS) at the Kingsway Centre in Wellingborough. |
- | **AGENDA** | + | We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/ |
- | The meeting will be informal | + | The venue has level step free access |
- | * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | + | You can either bring a packed lunch or nip out to somewhere locally, the town centre is about 5 minutes drive away and there is a co-op shop a few minutes walk away. |
- | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | + | |
- | * 10:45 - Decoder Pro - by Colin Head | + | |
- | * Decoder Pro is part of the JMRI software program, and can be used to set up the CV settings | + | 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 |
- | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break | + | 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. |
- | * 12:00 - CBUS on Kimble - by John Gowers | + | |
- | * John will describe his trials and tribulations implementing MERG DCC and CBUS on the ' | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
- | | + | **AGENDA** |
- | * 13:30 - LUNCH BREAK | + | * 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 | ||
- | * 14:30 - 16:30 ish - Making it work - Practical session | + | The Kingsway Model Railway Society 00 gauge layout will be open and partially running (one corner currently has an engineering possession for relaying the track). This uses the MERG DCC system and CBUS. The N gauge layout will also be set up. Pete will also have the Missenden St Mary's layout set up and running. |
- | ---- | + | Feel free if you want to bring something to run, the 00 layouts are DCC, the N gauge layout is analogue. |
+ | We will of course have our usual problem clinic providing General help on problems with kits or other electronic projects, building, testing, problem solving, techniques such as soldering etc. | ||
+ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
- | During introductions, | + | If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. I will add you to the list and, 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 |
- | For the practical sessions, as we have done before, if you have built something and would like any help and advice, please bring it along and we'll work on it with you as a demonstration for everyone. | + | Please book a place rather than just turning up on spec, if there are any last minute changes we need to know who is coming so that we can contact |
+ | Regards, | ||
- | 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! | + | Pete |
- | If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. I will add you to the list and, in due course, you will get a reply with full address details, directions to the venue and parking information. Let us know if you need a lift from a nearby station. | ||
- | (Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the next day or so.) | ||
- | ---- | ||
- | ====== | + | ====== |
- | **Saturday | + | **Saturday |
- | Kindly hosted by David Straker at his place in Leicester. | + | Here is the agenda for our September meeting. |
- | Weather permitting, there will be an opportunity to see and operate David' | + | This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Kingsway Model Railway Society at the Kingsway Centre in Wellingborough. |
- | Collection can be arranged from Leicester station | + | We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/ |
- | Tea and coffee will be provided, please | + | The venue has level step free access |
- | The meeting is on the ground floor and easily accessible with no steps. | + | You can either bring a packed lunch or nip out to somewhere locally, |
+ | 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. |
+ | ---- | ||
**AGENDA** | **AGENDA** | ||
Line 357: | Line 374: | ||
The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times: | The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times: | ||
- | * 10:00 Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | + | * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members |
- | * 10:30 Welcome | + | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions |
- | * 10:45 Introductions and group news | + | * 10:40 - Introduction to the Kingsway Model Railway Society - Roger barker |
- | * 11:10 Kit locker Update | + | * 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 Short coffee break | + | * 11:15 - Tea/coffee break |
- | * 11:45 What I'm doing and planning with DCC and CBUS - Pete Brownlow | + | * 11:30 - DCC and CBUS new developments with live demo - Pete Brownlow\\ (Including new features in CANCMD, CANCOMPUTE and development news on CANMIO (Universal) ) |
+ | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK | ||
- | * 12:30 Lunch - bring your own packed lunch (tea and coffee provided) | + | * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations |
- | * 13:30 A chance to operate David Straker' | + | 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' |
- | * in parallel with: | + | |
- | * 13:30 Making it work - our usual problem solving clinic | + | |
+ | Feel free if you want to bring something to run, the 00 layouts are DCC, the N gauge layout is analogue. | ||
- | * 16:00 “Wrap up” discussion, confirm next meeting and thanks to our host | + | 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. |
---- | ---- | ||
- | This will the last meeting organised by me as area group leader, so hopefully somebody | + | If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message |
- | Judi will have some kits for purchase, but can only bring a selection so If you want any specific kits, you would be best to order them in advance from the kit locker and specify collection at the Leicester area group meeting at the checkout page. | + | 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 |
- | 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. | + | (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, 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) | + | **Saturday 9th July 2022 from 10:00** |
- | 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. | + | The meeting is Kindly hosted |
- | All visitors, | + | 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. |
+ | 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. | ||
- | ====== SUMMER 2018 MERG East Midlands area group meeting ====== | + | It is a running day on the NVR, purple timetable, scheduled to be a mix of steam and the Peak diesel. See the NVR website for more details. |
- | **Sunday 15th July 2018 from 10:00** | ||
- | Kindly hosted by Judi Rastall at her place in Sutton on Sea. | + | ---- |
- | Come to the seaside for our Summer meeting! The weather forecast is hot and sunny. | ||
- | 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/ | + | **AGENDA** |
- | 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 | + | The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times: |
- | 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. | + | * 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 | ||
- | 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 | + | * 13:30 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations |
- | 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. | + | Note: " |
- | 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. | + | 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. |
- | 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. | + | 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 ====== | ||
- | **AGENDA** | + | **Saturday |
- | The meeting | + | This 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 the venue hire and teas/ |
- | * 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 | + | You can either |
+ | 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. | ||
- | * 14:30 Afternoon sessions: | + | More details of parking |
- | * - 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 | + | |
- | * - Or just relax in the sunshine | + | |
- | ---- | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+ | **AGENDA** | ||
- | Kits will, of course, | + | The meeting |
- | For the clinic session, as we have done before, if you have built something | + | * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members |
+ | * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions | ||
+ | * 10:35 - Introduction | ||
+ | * 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 | ||
- | 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. | + | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK |
- | To access the loft layout, you do need to be able to climb up the loft ladder, so this will not be possible for everybody. Judi will give a talk about her progress during the morning session, with the option to visit and operate the layout in the afternoon for those who can access it. | + | * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations |
- | 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. | + | The Kingsway Model Railway Society 00 gauge layout |
- | 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. | + | We will of course |
- | If you have already emailed or posted that you are coming, you should get your confirmation email in the next few days. | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+ | 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** | ||
+ | This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Bassetlaw (North Notts) Railway Society at their clubrooms on Retford Railway Station. | ||
- | ====== MAY 2018 MERG East Midlands area group meeting ====== | + | Thanks to MERG and Bassetlaw Railway Society member Julian Pratt for arranging the venue for us. |
- | **Saturday 26th May 2018 from 9:30** | + | 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 make a donation to the Society. |
- | Kindly hosted by the Nene Valley Railway | + | Parking is available |
- | Thanks to Russ Jenner for organising | + | If we can get a Wi-Fi connection at the venue, we will have a Zoom connection |
- | These arrangements are provisional, as some details still have to be finalised with the speakers. | + | Numbers will be limited to 20, to ensure reasonable separation. Mask wearing is now optional, please make your own choice. |
- | + | ||
- | **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! | + | |
---- | ---- | ||
- | * 09:00 Members arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members | ||
- | * 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 with the usual team | ||
+ | **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 | ||
+ | * 10:40 - The Bassetlaw (North Notts) Railway Society - Julian Pratt | ||
+ | * 10:50 - Different cabs for the MERG DCC system - Simon West, John Gowers & Pete Brownlow | ||
+ | * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break | ||
+ | * 11:45 - Different cabs for the MERG DCC system - continued | ||
+ | * 12:15 - Kit locker update - Judi Rastall | ||
+ | * 12:30 - My CBUS & JMRI journey - Julian Pratt | ||
- | We will ask for £2 per head to cover the room hire cost and £1 each in the " | + | * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK |
- | Kits will be available for purchase. If you have specific requirements, | + | * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations, soldering clinic and practical problems help clinic |
- | 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. | ||
- | The meeting room is step-free accessible. If you need a disabled parking space reserved close up, please let us know. | + | 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. |
- | 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. | + | During the afternoon John Gowers will provide a soldering clinic, both through hole and surface mount. |
- | 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. | + | We will of course |
- | 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. | + | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
- | ---- | + | 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.) | ||
- | ====== FEBRUARY 2018 MERG East Midlands area group meeting ====== | ||
- | **Sunday 4th Febrary 2018 from 10:00** | + | ---- |
+ | ====== JANUARY 2022 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ====== | ||
- | Kindly hosted by the Syston Model Railway Society at their clubrooms at The Old School Community Centre, Thurmaston, Leicestershire | + | Here is the agenda for our January 2022 online area group meeting. |
- | Thanks to SMRS and MERG member Mike Collins for arranging this venue for us. | + | **Saturday 15th January from 10:00** |
- | Due to when the venue is available, we are trying a Sunday this time. The Pros are that members who have Saturday commitments, | + | This meeting will be online using Zoom. |
- | Collection can be arranged | + | As before, we have found that breaks of roughly 10-15 mins per hour worked well, to avoid people getting fatigued |
- | 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 539: | Line 558: | ||
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.1583048821.txt.gz · Last modified: 2020/03/01 07:47 by PeteB