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--- public:eastmids [2023/03/21 21:29] – [MERG East Midlands Area Group News] grovenor
+++ public:eastmids [2024/03/03 07:45] (current) – Add March 24 meeting PeteB
@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 For MERG members, you might also like to look at our [[https://www.merg.org.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=55|area group forum]].
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-====== SEPTEMBER 2022 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ======
-**Saturday 3rd September 2022 from 10:00**
+====== March 2024 East Midlands face to face area group meeting ======
-Here is the agenda for our September meeting.
+Here is the agenda for our March 2024 area group meeting.
-This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Kingsway Model Railway Society at the Kingsway Centre in Wellingborough.
+**Saturday 16th March 2024 from 10:00**
-We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/coffees. Note that one payment covers both this time, you don't need to pay separately for the teas and coffees. If we collect more than the cost of hiring the venue and refreshments, we will donate the difference to KMRS.
+This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Bassetlaw (North Notts) Railway Society at their clubrooms on Retford Railway Station.
-The venue has level step free access and good parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know.
+Thanks to MERG and Bassetlaw Railway Society member Julian Pratt for arranging the venue for us.
-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.
+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.
-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.
+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://victoriaroadcarpark.com]] or £4 at Cobwell Road, DN22 7DD [[https://parkanddonate.co.uk]], 3 mins walk.
+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.
-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.
 ----
@@ Line 43: / Line 50: @@
   * 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
+  * 10:40 - The Bassetlaw (North Notts) Railway Society - Julian Pratt
-  * 10:45 - Turntable Tales - My journey so far with the Peco Turntable and MERG Turntable Controller - kit John Wood\\ (Also includes using Julian's auto-reverser to power the deck)
+  * 10:50 - MERG news - John Gowers (MERG chairman)
-  * 11:15 - Tea/coffee break
+  * 11:00 - The CANXIO - 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) )
+  * 11:45 - Tea/coffee break
-  * 13:00 - LUNCH 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.
+During the afternoon our chairman, John Gowers, will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about MERG committee matters etc.
-  * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic
+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.
-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 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.
+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.
-----
+(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 a day or two, you will get a reply with full details, directions to the venue and parking information. Even if you are not sure yet whether you can get along, please let us know anyway so we can plan for likely numbers.
-Please book a place rather than just turning up on spec, if there are any last minute changes we need to know who is coming so that we can contact you.
-(Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the next few days).
 ----
-====== JULY 2022 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ======
-**Saturday 9th July 2022 from 10:00**
+====== January 2024 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ======
-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.
+Here is the agenda for our January online Zoom area group meeting.
-We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover both the venue hire and teas/coffees for the day. If we collect more than the cost of hiring the venue and supplying refreshments, we will donate the difference to the NVR.
+**Saturday 20th January 2024 from 10:00**
-The venue has level step free access and good parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know.
+This meeting will be online using Zoom.
-There is a cafe on site, we will pass the menu around in the morning so you can order lunch if you wish.
+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.
-If the Wifi at the venue is working well enough, we will endevour have a Zoom connection for the morning meeting, for those who cannot come in person. However, the meeting will be optimised for those who manage to get along, who will get the best experience.
-It is a running day on the NVR, purple timetable, scheduled to be a mix of steam and the Peak diesel. See the NVR website for more details.
-----
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 **AGENDA**
@@ Line 92: / Line 92: @@
 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, group news and Introductions
+  *  10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions
-  * 10:40 - Developing FCU - progress and challenges, David Radcliffe
+  *  10:45 - Essex Brick part 2 - getting into using YAAT for automation - Eddy
-  * 11:20 - Tea/coffee break
+  *  11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!)
-  * 11:30 - Colin Head - Demo and progress report on my layout (which has no name yet!)
+  *  11:45 - My initial exploration of the Hornby HM7000 system - David Page
-  * 12:10 - MERG & kit locker updates - Judi Rastall
+  * 12:15 - QnA on the above talks
-  * 12:30 - LUNCH BREAK
+  * 12:30 - Kit and other news
+  *  13:00 - LUNCH BREAK
+  *  14:00 on - General QnA and help clinic
-  * 13:30 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Note: "FCU" is the FLiM Config Utility, used to configure CBUS modules from a computer
+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->MY UPCOMING EVENTS, or go directly to https://merg.org.uk/membership/summary.php, and you should see the details of this meeting together with the Zoom link to join in
-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.
+Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page.
-Let us know if you need a lift from Peterborough station. Please plan to arrive at Peterborough station no later than 9:30am, so whoever picks you up does not have to miss any of the meeting.
+If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https://www.merg.org.uk/membership and make sure you are subscribed to the East Midlands area group. There is no requirement that you live in the East Midlands, any member can subscribe and join in. If you would like to introduce a visitor to the meeting, please email their details to eastmids@merg.org.uk.
-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.
+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.
 ----
-====== APRIL 2022 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ======
-**Saturday  16th April 2022 from 10:00**
-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/coffees. Note that one payment covers both this time, you don't need to pay separately for the teas and coffees. If we collect more than the cost of hiring the venue and refreshments, we will donate the difference to KMRS.
+====== December 2023 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ======
-The venue has level step free access and good parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know.
+Here is the agenda for our December 2023 online Zoom area group meeting.
-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.
+**Saturday 9th December from 10:00**
-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.
+This meeting will be online using Zoom.
-More details of parking and how to find the venue will be included in your confirmation email when you book your place.
+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.
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ Line 135: / Line 136: @@
 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, group news and Introductions
+  *  10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions
-  * 10:35 - Introduction to the Kingsway Model Railway Society - Roger barker
+  *  10:45 - Essex Brick a lockdown to exhibition layout - Eddy
-  * 10:45 - My CBUS & JMRI journey - Julian Pratt (held over from the previous meeting)
+  *  11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!)
-  * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break
+  *  11:45 - Update on my developments with DCC, CBUS and JMRI - Pete Brownlow
-  * 11:45 - Kit locker update - news about MERG kits - Judi Rastall
+   * 12:45 - QnA
-  * 12:15 - CBUS update - developments and things I am working on - Pete Brownlow
+  *  13:00 - LUNCH BREAK
+  *  14:00 on - General QnA and help clinic
-  * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-  * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems 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.
-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.
+If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS->MY UPCOMING EVENTS, or go directly to https://merg.org.uk/membership/summary.php, and you should see the details of this meeting together with the Zoom link to join in
-We will of course have our usual problem clinic providing General help on problems with kits or other electronic projects, building, testing, problem solving etc. There will also be the chance to operate the Kingsway 00 gauge layout using the MERG DCC system.
+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://www.merg.org.uk/membership and make sure you are subscribed to the East Midlands area group. There is no requirement that you live in the East Midlands, any member can subscribe and join in. If you would like to introduce a visitor to the meeting, please email their details to eastmids@merg.org.uk.
-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.
+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.
-(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 ======
+----
+====== OCTOBER 2023 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ======
-**Saturday 26th February 2022 from 10:00**
+**Saturday 21st October 2023 from 10:00**
-This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Bassetlaw (North Notts) Railway Society at their clubrooms on Retford Railway Station.
+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.
-Thanks to MERG and Bassetlaw Railway Society member Julian Pratt for arranging the venue for us.
+We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover both the venue hire and teas/coffees for the day. If we collect more than the cost of hiring the venue and supplying refreshments, we will donate the difference to the NVR.
-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.
+The venue has level step free access and good parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know.
-Parking is available in the station car park at a cost of £5. You can of course come by train to Retford Station.
+There is a cafe on site, I will confirm arrangements, but most likely we will pass the menu around in the morning so you can order lunch if you wish.
-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.
-Numbers will be limited to 20, to ensure reasonable separation. Mask wearing is now optional, please make your own choice. We would recommend that everyone takes a lateral flow test before coming.
+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.
 ----
 **AGENDA**
@@ Line 182: / Line 182: @@
   * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members
-  * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions
+  * 10:30 - Welcome to NVR and housekeeping - Russ Jenner
-  * 10:40 - The Bassetlaw (North Notts) Railway Society - Julian Pratt
+  * 10:35 - Group news and Introductions
-  * 10:50 - Different cabs for the MERG DCC system - Simon West, John Gowers & Pete Brownlow
+  * 10:45 - CBUS and JMRI at Gwynne Junction - James Cunningham - including some or all of CANMIO Rev K, JMRI semaphore signalling, my JMRI touchscreen signal box and Railcom
-  * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break
+  * 11:45 - Tea/coffee break
-  * 11:45 - Different cabs for the MERG DCC system - continued
+  * 12:00 - MERG & kit locker updates - Judi Rastall
-  * 12:15 - Kit locker update - Judi Rastall
+  * 12:30 - The Universal Experimenters Module - Pete Brownlow
-  * 12:30 - My CBUS & JMRI journey - Julian Pratt
   * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK
+  *
+  * 13:30 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic
-  * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations, soldering clinic and practical problems help clinic
+----
-The cabs session will cover basic how to use the MERG DCC system, circuit designs, the standard MERG CANCAB and other variations designed by members.
+During the afternoon, 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.
-During the afternoon John Gowers will provide a soldering clinic, both through hole and surface mount.
+If he can get the 00 layout running for the afternoon he will do so.
-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.
+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 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.
+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.
-(Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the next few days.)
+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.)
 ----
-====== JANUARY 2022 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ======
+====== JULY 2023 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ======
-Here is the agenda for our January 2022 online area group meeting.
+**Saturday 8th July 2023 from 10:00**
-**Saturday 15th January from 10:00**
+Due to Judi's building work not being complete in time, we have swapped the venues for our July and September meetings.
-This meeting will be online using Zoom.
+This meeting will now be at Aisthorpe Village Hall, near Lincoln, Kindly hosted by Lincoln & District Model Railway Club (L&DMRC) at Scampton and Aisthorpe Village hall, near Lincoln.
-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.
+Thanks to Richard Joyce for organising the venue for us.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+Tea and Coffee will be available all day, please bring your own packed lunch as there are no other facilities nearby.
-**AGENDA**
+We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/coffees. Note that one payment covers both, you don't need to pay separately for the teas and coffees. If we collect more than the cost of hiring the venue and refreshments, we will donate the difference to L&DMRC.
-The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times:
+The venue has level step free access and reasonable parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know.
-  * 10:00 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/audio/video issues, have a chat.
+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.
-  * 10:30 - Welcome and Introductions
-  * 10:45 - - CBUS miscellany - Pete Brownlow
-    * Latest CANMO (Universal) firmware release
+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.
-    * 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
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+**AGENDA**
-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.
+The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times:
-If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS->MY UPCOMING EVENTS, or go directly to https://merg.org.uk/membership/summary.php, and you should see the details of this meeting together with the Zoom link to join in (Note- I updated the link earlier this week as there was a problem with the original one posted)
+  * 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
-Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page.
+There should also be a chance to see some of the L&DMRC layouts.
-If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https://www.merg.org.uk/membership and make sure you are subscribed to the East Midlands area group. There is no requirement that you live in the East Midlands, any member can subscribe and join in. If you would like to introduce a visitor to the meeting, please email their details to eastmids@merg.org.uk.
+We will of course have our usual problem clinic providing General help on problems with kits or other electronic projects, building, testing, problem solving, techniques such as soldering etc.
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-If you still can't get the Zoom link, send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk and I'll email you the Zoom link.
+If you 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.
-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.
+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).
-====== NOVEMBER 2021 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ======
-Here is the agenda for our November 2021 online area group meeting.
+====== May 2023 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ======
-**Saturday 27th November from 10:00**
+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.
@@ Line 270: / Line 274: @@
 The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times:
-  * 10:00 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/audio/video issues, have a chat.
+  *  10:00 - Get connected, Informal chat
-  * 10:30 - Welcome and Introductions
+  *  10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions
-  * 10:45 - Keep alive circuit - design and description - Julian Coles
+  *  10:45 - MERG and kit locker news
-  * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!)
+  *  11:00 - FCU (CBUS Config utility) - development news and status - Pete Brownlow
-  * 11:45 - Keep alive circuit - building, installing and using it - Pete Brownlow
+  *  11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!)
-  * 12:30 - Kit locker update - Judi Rastall
+  *  11:45 - WebFCU (alternative CBUS config utility) - David Ellis
-  * 12:45 - Lunch break
+  *  12:15 - From the MERG chairman - John Gowers
-  * 13:45 - QnA and anyone looking for advice and help on any projects
+  * 12:45 - MERG AGM event - possible East Mids Area group involvement
+  *  13:00 - LUNCH BREAK
+  *  14:00 on - General QnA and help clinic
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ Line 283: / Line 289: @@
 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->MY UPCOMING EVENTS, or go directly to https://merg.org.uk/membership/summary.php, and you should see the details of this meeting together with the Zoom link to join in (Note- I updated the link earlier this week as there was a problem with the original one posted)
+If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS->MY UPCOMING EVENTS, or go directly to https://merg.org.uk/membership/summary.php, and you should see the details of this meeting together with the Zoom link to join in
 Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page.
@@ Line 291: / Line 297: @@
 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.
+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.
 ----
-====== OCTOBER 2021 East Midlands area group meeting ======
+====== APRIL 2023 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ======
-**Saturday 16th October 2021 from 10:00**
+**Saturday 8th April 2023 from 10:00**
-This 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.
+Here is the agenda for our April meeting.
-We will ask for a donation of £3 per head to cover the venue hire. If we collect more than the cost of hiring the venue, we will donate the difference to the NVR.
+This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Kingsway Model Railway Society (KMRS) at the Kingsway Centre in Wellingborough.
+We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/coffees. Note that one payment covers both, you don't need to pay separately for the teas and coffees. If we collect more than the cost of hiring the venue and refreshments, we will donate the difference to KMRS.
 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.
+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.
-If the Wifi at the venue is working well enough, we will 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.
+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.
-It is a running day on the NVR, I'm not sure if it will be steam or diesel.
+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**
-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
-  * 10:45 - O gauge headcode module - live demo - Graham Clarke
+  * 10:40 - Introduction to the Kingsway Model Railway Society - Roger Barker
-  * 11:15 - Tea/coffee break
+  * 10:45 - CBUS update - what has been happening in the CBUS world - Pete Brownlow
-  * 11:30 - DCC basics - Colin Head
+  * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break
-  * 12:00 - Introduction to Surface mount assembly using the hotplate method - Duncan Greenwood
+  * 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
-  * 12:30 - LUNCH BREAK
+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.
-  * 13:30 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations, soldering clinic and practical problems help clinic
+Feel free if you want to bring something to run, the 00 layouts are DCC, the N gauge layout is analogue.
-During the afternoon the following activities will be available:
+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.
-  * Duncan will give close up demonstrations to smaller groups of the hot plate method of surface mount assembly
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-  * John Gowers will give advice and surface mount hand soldering
-  * Graham Clarke with further demos of his headcode unit
-  * Colin Head will be available for digging deeper into DCC topics such as the JMRI roster
-  * General help on problems with kits or other electronic projects, building, testing, problem solving etc.
-  * NVR now has a Railwayana shop which we hope will be open
-----
+If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. I will add you to the list and, before the event, you will get a reply with full details, directions to the venue and parking information. Even if you are not sure yet whether you can get along, please let us know anyway so we can plan for likely numbers.
-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.
+Please book a place rather than just turning up on spec, if there are any last minute changes we need to know who is coming so that we can contact you.
+Regards,
-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.
+Pete
-(Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the next few days.)
-----
-====== SEPTEMBER 2021 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ======
-Here is the agenda for our September 2021 online area group meeting.
-**Saturday 11th September from 10:00**
-This meeting will be online using Zoom.
+====== SEPTEMBER 2022 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ======
-As before, we have found that breaks of roughly 10-15 mins per hour worked well, to avoid people getting fatigued from staring at their screens, so we will plan to do the same again.
+**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/coffees. Note that one payment covers both this time, you don't need to pay separately for the teas and coffees. If we collect more than the cost of hiring the venue and refreshments, we will donate the difference to KMRS.
-**AGENDA**
-The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times:
-  * 10:00 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/audio/video issues, have a chat.
-  * 10:30 - Welcome and Introductions
-  * 10:45 - EzyAutomation (no additional wires system) by Julian Coles
-  * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!)
-  * 11:45 - Group news and updates
-  * 12:15 - Lunch
-  * 13:15 - QnA and clinic for anyone looking for advice and help on any projects
-----
-For the QnA sessions, if you have built something and would like any help and advice, please be ready to wave it at the camera, and we'll see what help and advice we can give from afar.
-If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS->MY UPCOMING EVENTS, or go directly to https://merg.org.uk/membership/summary.php, and you should see the details of this meeting together with the Zoom link to join in.
-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://www.merg.org.uk/membership and make sure you are subscribed to the East Midlands area group. There is no requirement that you live in the East Midlands, any member can subscribe and join in. If you would like to introduce a visitor to the meeting, please email their details to eastmids@merg.org.uk.
-If you still can't get the Zoom link, send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk and I'll email you the Zoom link.
-----
-----
-====== AUGUST 2021 East Midlands area group meeting ======
-**Saturday 7th August 2021 from 10:00**
-This is our first face to face meeting since 14 March 2020, before Covid restrictions.
-This meeting is Kindly hosted at the Kingsway Centre in Wellingborough, Northants, by the Kingsway Model Railway Society (KMRS)
-We will ask for a donation of £3 per head to cover the venue hire.  If we collect more than the cost of hiring the venue, we will donate the difference to KMRS.
 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, such as the Sainsbury's cafe which is about 5 minutes drive away.
+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 limit numbers to 30 to make sure that the meeting is not crowded, and chairs can be set out with a little spacing.
+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.
-We will have a Zoom connection for the 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.
+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**
@@ Line 411: / Line 376: @@
   * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members
   * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions
-  * 10:45 - Introducing my new role as MERG Education and Training - John Fletcher
+  * 10:40 - Introduction to the Kingsway Model Railway Society - Roger barker
-  * 11:00 - A demo of automation on Missenden St Mary's - Pete Brownlow
+  * 10:45 - Turntable Tales - My journey so far with the Peco Turntable and MERG Turntable Controller - kit John Wood\\ (Also includes using Julian's auto-reverser to power the deck)
-  * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break
+  * 11:15 - Tea/coffee break
-  * 12:00 - Sounds for South Town - David Page
+  * 11:30 - DCC and CBUS new developments with live demo - Pete Brownlow\\ (Including new features in CANCMD, CANCOMPUTE and development news on CANMIO (Universal) )
-  * 12:45 - A summary of the Arduino SIG (Special Interest Group) - John Fletcher
   * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK
-  * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Making it work - Practical session and problem clinic plus demos and Soldering help
+  * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic
-----
-For the practical sessions, as we have done before, if you have built something and would like any help and advice, please bring it along and we'll work on it with you as a demonstration for all those interested.
+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 set up and running.
-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!
+Feel free if you want to bring something to run,  the 00 layouts are DCC, the N gauge layout is analogue.
-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.
+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.
-Let us know if you need a lift from Wellingborough station. Please plan to arrive at Wellingborough station no later than 10am, so whoever picks you up does not have to miss any of the meeting.
-(Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the next few days.)
 ----
-====== JULY 2021 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ======
-Here is the agenda for our July 2021 online area group meeting.
-**Saturday 3rd July from 10:00**
+If you would like to come, please send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk or post a message in the East Midlands Area group section of the MERG forum. I will add you to the list and, 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.
-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.
+Please book a place rather than just turning up on spec, if there are any last minute changes we need to know who is coming so that we can contact you.
+(Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the next few days).
 ----
+====== JULY 2022 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ======
+**Saturday 9th July 2022 from 10:00**
-**AGENDA**
+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.
-The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times:
+We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover both the venue hire and teas/coffees for the day. If we collect more than the cost of hiring the venue and supplying refreshments, we will donate the difference to the NVR.
-  * 10:00 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/audio/video issues, have a chat.
+The venue has level step free access and good parking. If you need a disabled space reserved, please let us know.
-  * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions
-  * 11:00 - Planning for my CBUS layout - Jim Heck
-  * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!)
-  * 11:45 - StaRFIshrail - new CBUS RFID system - Martin Snashall
-  * 12:30 - Lunch
-  * 13:30 - QnA and clinic for anyone looking for advice and help on any projects
-----
+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.
-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.
+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.
-If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS->MY UPCOMING EVENTS, or go directly to https://merg.org.uk/membership/summary.php, and you should see the details of this meeting together with the Zoom link to join in.
-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://www.merg.org.uk/membership and make sure you are subscribed to the East Midlands area group. There is no requirement that you live in the East Midlands, any member can subscribe and join in. If you would like to introduce a visitor to the meeting, please email their details to eastmids@merg.org.uk.
-If you still can't get the Zoom link, send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk and I'll email you the Zoom link.
-----
-====== MAY 2021 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ======
-Here is the agenda for our MAY 2021 online area group meeting.
-**Saturday 29th 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.
@@ Line 492: / Line 425: @@
 The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times:
-  * 10:00 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/audio/video issues, have a chat.
+  * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members
   * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions
-  * 10:45 - Round-up of what members have been doing - anyone and everyone
+  * 10:40 - Developing FCU - progress and challenges, David Radcliffe
-  * 11:15 - An easier way to connect Tortoise point motors - John Gowers
+  * 11:20 - Tea/coffee break
-  * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!)
+  * 11:30 - Colin Head - Demo and progress report on my layout (which has no name yet!)
-  * 11:45 - Choosing CBUS modules for a layout - Pete Brownlow
+  * 12:10 - MERG & kit locker updates - Judi Rastall
-  * 12:30 - Lunch
+  * 12:30 - LUNCH BREAK
-  * 13:30 - QnA and clinic for anyone looking for advice and help on any projects
-----
+  * 13:30 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic
+Note: "FCU" is the FLiM Config Utility, used to configure CBUS modules from a computer
-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->MY UPCOMING EVENTS, or go directly to https://merg.org.uk/membership/summary.php, and you should see the details of this meeting together with the Zoom link to join in.
+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.
-Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page.
+Let us know if you need a lift from Peterborough station. Please plan to arrive at Peterborough station no later than 9:30am, so whoever picks you up does not have to miss any of the meeting.
-If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https://www.merg.org.uk/membership and make sure you are subscribed to the East Midlands area group. There is no requirement that you live in the East Midlands, any member can subscribe and join in. If you would like to introduce a visitor to the meeting, please email their details to eastmids@merg.org.uk.
-If you still can't get the Zoom link, send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk and I'll email you the Zoom link.
+Those who have already let 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 2021 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ======
+====== APRIL 2022 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ======
-Here is the agenda for our April 2021 online area group meeting.
+**Saturday  16th April 2022 from 10:00**
-**Saturday 24th April from 10:00**
+This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Kingsway Model Railway Society at the Kingsway Centre in Wellingborough.
-This meeting will be online using Zoom.
+We will ask for a donation of £5 per head to cover the venue hire and teas/coffees. Note that one payment covers both this time, you don't need to pay separately for the teas and coffees. If we collect more than the cost of hiring the venue and refreshments, we will donate the difference to KMRS.
-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.
+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**
@@ Line 534: / Line 468: @@
 The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times:
-  * 10:00 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/audio/video issues, have a chat.
+  * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members
   * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions
-  * 11:00 - A design for coach lighting - John Gowers
+  * 10:35 - Introduction to the Kingsway Model Railway Society - Roger barker
-  * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!)
+  * 10:45 - My CBUS & JMRI journey - Julian Pratt (held over from the previous meeting)
-  * 11:45 - Loco speed profiling with JMRI - Pete Brownlow
+  * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break
-  * 12:30 - Lunch
+  * 11:45 - Kit locker update - news about MERG kits - Judi Rastall
-  * 13:30 - QnA and clinic for anyone looking for advice and help on any projects
+  * 12:15 - CBUS update - developments and things I am working on - Pete Brownlow
-----
+  * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK
+  * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations and practical problems help clinic
-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.
+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.
-If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS->MY UPCOMING EVENTS, or go directly to https://merg.org.uk/membership/summary.php, and you should see the details of this meeting together with the Zoom link to join in.
+We will of course have our usual problem clinic providing General help on problems with kits or other electronic projects, building, testing, problem solving etc. There will also be the chance to operate the Kingsway 00 gauge layout using the MERG DCC system.
-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://www.merg.org.uk/membership and make sure you are subscribed to the East Midlands area group. There is no requirement that you live in the East Midlands, any member can subscribe and join in. If you would like to introduce a visitor to the meeting, please email their details to eastmids@merg.org.uk.
+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.
-If you still can't get the Zoom link, send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk and I'll email you the Zoom link.
+(Those who have already let me know that you are coming, I will be sending out confirmation emails in the next day or two).
 ----
-====== MARCH 2021 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ======
+====== FEBRUARY 2022 East Midlands MERG Area Group FACE to FACE meeting ======
-Here is the agenda for our March 2021 online area group meeting.
+**Saturday 26th February 2022 from 10:00**
-**Saturday 27th March from 10:00**
+This meeting is Kindly hosted by the The Bassetlaw (North Notts) Railway Society at their clubrooms on Retford Railway Station.
-This meeting will be online using Zoom.
+Thanks to MERG and Bassetlaw Railway Society member Julian Pratt for arranging the venue for us.
-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.
+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.
+Parking is available in the station car park at a cost of £5. You can of course come by train to Retford Station.
+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.
+Numbers will be limited to 20, to ensure reasonable separation. Mask wearing is now optional, please make your own choice. We would recommend that everyone takes a lateral flow test before coming.
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 The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times:
-  * 10:00 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/audio/video issues, have a chat.
+  * 10:00 - Arrival, Informal chat and get to know the other members
   * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions
-  * 10:45 - Design process for PTP-Lite on my layout Great Shefford - Richard Wilson
+  * 10:40 - The Bassetlaw (North Notts) Railway Society - Julian Pratt
-  * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!)
+  * 10:50 - Different cabs for the MERG DCC system - Simon West, John Gowers & Pete Brownlow
-  * 11:45 - Update on my 3D designs using Sketchup - Gordon Hopkins
+  * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break
-  * 12:30 - Lunch
+  * 11:45 - Different cabs for the MERG DCC system - continued
-  * 13:30 - QnA and clinic for anyone looking for advice and help on any projects
+  * 12:15 - Kit locker update - Judi Rastall
+  * 12:30 - My CBUS & JMRI journey - Julian Pratt
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+  * 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK
+  * 14:00 - 16:30 ish - Demonstrations, soldering clinic and practical problems help clinic
-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->MY UPCOMING EVENTS, or go directly to https://merg.org.uk/membership/summary.php, and you should see the details of this meeting together with the Zoom link to join in.
+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.
-Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page.
+During the afternoon John Gowers will provide a soldering clinic, both through hole and surface mount.
-If you cannot see the details for East Midlands area group meetings, go to https://www.merg.org.uk/membership and make sure you are subscribed to the East Midlands area group. There is no requirement that you live in the East Midlands, any member can subscribe and join in. If you would like to introduce a visitor to the meeting, please email their details to eastmids@merg.org.uk.
+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 still can't get the Zoom link, send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk and I'll email you the Zoom link.
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+If you 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.)
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-====== FEBRUARY 2021 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ======
+====== JANUARY 2022 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ======
-Here is the agenda for our February 2021 online area group meeting.
+Here is the agenda for our January 2022 online area group meeting.
-**Saturday 27th February from 10:00**
+**Saturday 15th January from 10:00**
 This meeting will be online using Zoom.
@@ Line 608: / Line 552: @@
 As before, we have found that breaks of roughly 10-15 mins per hour worked well, to avoid people getting fatigued from staring at their screens, so we will plan to do the same again.
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 **AGENDA**
@@ Line 617: / Line 559: @@
   * 10:00 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/audio/video issues, have a chat.
-  * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions
+  * 10:30 - Welcome and Introductions
-  * 10:45 - Progress update on my DCC/CBUS layout - Colin Head
+  * 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 - An O gauge destination blind - Graham Clark
+  * 11:45 - Kit locker update - Judi Rastall
-  * 12:30 - Lunch
+  * 12:00 - Lunch break
-  * 13:30 - QnA and clinic for anyone looking for advice and help on any projects
+  * 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->MY UPCOMING EVENTS, or go directly to https://merg.org.uk/membership/summary.php, and you should see the details of this meeting together with the Zoom link to join in.
+If you would like to join in, please go to the MERG website, select the menu option MEMBER LINKS->MY UPCOMING EVENTS, or go directly to https://merg.org.uk/membership/summary.php, and you should see the details of this meeting together with the Zoom link to join in (Note- I updated the link earlier this week as there was a problem with the original one posted)
 Please don't share the Zoom links with anyone outside MERG, or post them on any public social media or web page.
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 If you still can't get the Zoom link, send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk and I'll email you the Zoom link.
-----
+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.
-====== JANUARY 2021 East Midlands ONLINE area group meeting ======
-Here is the agenda for our January 2021 online area group meeting.
-**Saturday 30th January from 10:00**
-This meeting will be online using Zoom.
-As before, we have found that breaks of roughly 10-15 mins per hour worked well, to avoid people getting fatigued from staring at their screens, so we will plan to do the same again.
 ----
-**AGENDA**
-The meeting will be informal and flexible, so these are approximate times:
-  * 10:00 - Get connected, sort out any microphone/audio/video issues
-  * 10:30 - Welcome, group news and Introductions
-  * 10:45 - Installing DCC decoders in older locos - John Gowers
-  * 11:30 - Tea/coffee break (make your own!)
-  * 11:45 - JMRI with automation on Missenden St Marys - Pete Brownlow
-  * 12:30 - Lunch
-  * 13:30 - QnA and clinic for anyone looking for advice and help on any projects
-----
-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->MY UPCOMING EVENTS, or go directly to https://merg.org.uk/membership/summary.php, and you should see the details of this meeting together with the Zoom link to join in.
-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://www.merg.org.uk/membership and make sure you are subscribed to the East Midlands area group. There is no requirement that you live in the East Midlands, any member can subscribe and join in. If you would like to introduce a visitor to the meeting, please email their details to eastmids@merg.org.uk.
-If you still can't get the Zoom link, send an email to eastmids@merg.org.uk and I'll email you the Zoom link.