Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- public:vag [2020/07/03 09:03] – uppermill
+++ public:vag [2020/07/07 07:35] – uppermill
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+~~NOTOC~~
 <WRAP hide>
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 </WRAP>
+<WRAP notice round centeralign>
 ====== MERG Virtual Area Group ======
+</WRAP>
-<WRAP info centeralign button>[[:public:areagroups|Area Groups]] [[:public:start|Public pages]] [[https://www.merg.org.uk/index.php|MERG Home page]] </WRAP>
+<WRAP box round centeralign button>
+\\
+[[:public:areagroups|Area Groups]] [[:public:start|Public pages]] [[https://www.merg.org.uk/index.php|MERG Home page]] </WRAP>
 <WRAP hide>
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 {{:public:istock-168615238.jpg?nolink&400|}}
 </WRAP>
-=== How do I contact the Area Group ===
+===== How do I contact the Virtual Area Group? =====
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 </WRAP>
-=== Who is the leader of the group? ===
+===== Who is the leader of the group? =====
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 </WRAP>
-=== Would you like to join today? ===
+===== Would you like to join today? =====
 <WRAP hide>
 ****************************************************
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 </WRAP>
 <WRAP tip round>
-Not a member? then <WRAP button>[[https://www.merg.org.uk/membership.php|Join MERG Here]]</WRAP> and sign up to this Area Group. If you are already a member <WRAP button>[[https://merg.org.uk/membership/|Join the Virtual Area Group]]</WRAP>
+Not a member? then <WRAP button>[[https://www.merg.org.uk/membership.php|Join MERG Here]]</WRAP> and sign up to this Area Group. If you are already a member <WRAP button>[[https://merg.org.uk/membership/areagroups.php|Join the Virtual Area Group]]</WRAP>
-Edit **Area Groups** using the green pencil. Then select **Virtual Area Group** from the drop down list in **Other Area Groups** and press the **Subscribe to Area Group** button.
+Select **Virtual Area Group** from the drop down list in **Other Area Groups** and press the **Subscribe to Area Group** button.
 </WRAP>
-=== How do you meet? ===
+===== How do you meet? =====
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 ****************************************************
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 </WRAP>
-=== And the Next Meeting? ===
+===== And the Next Meeting? =====
 <WRAP hide>
 ***************************************************************************
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 </WRAP>
+===== How are Topics Chosen? =====
+<WRAP info round>
-====== MERG Virtual Area Group ======
-The Virtual Area Group uses a Zoom video call to meet every Tuesday for an hour or more.
-===== Meeting Schedule =====
-<ORG34>ALL|80|28</ORG34>
-The times vary to try and make the calls work for different time zones. We regularly welcome members from: -
-  * Australia\\
-  * Canada\\
-  * Iceland\\
-  * Ireland\\
-  * UK\\
-  * USA.\\
-Calls are recorded and made available to all members through MERG TV; presentation materials are also available.
-===== Area Group Coordinator =====
-Allan Geekie - you can contact Allan using the [[https://www.merg.org.uk/areagroup.php?area=28|MERG Area Group contact form]]\\
-===== Meeting Topics =====
 In April 2020 we carried out a poll of VAG members and the following topics were identified as the most popular: -
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   * How kits work - a series of calls, each discussing the how one particular kit works - now schuduled
   * Types and use of baseboard connectors - covered in Demystifying Components -Wires and Connectors
-  * Oscilloscopes and logic analysers for hobbyists - being planned as a two part course.
+  * Oscilloscopes and logic analysers for hobbyists - now scheduled
   * Using the FCU - a multi part course is being considered including the use of the FCU to configure individual 2nd generation modules.
-  * Testing boards (use of various pieces of test equipment and the way to go about it) - A Test Gear Buyers Guide is already scheduled; other calls to be added.
+  * Testing boards (use of various pieces of test equipment and the way to go about it) - A Test Gear Buyers Guide has already been presented.
   * Neater Methods of under board wiring
@@ Line 138: / Line 117: @@
 Members can suggest topics at any time using the member email system.
+</WRAP>
+===== How do Video Calls Work? =====
+<WRAP round tip>
+The calls last one hour and to participate, members need a mobile phone, tablet or a PC / Mac with a camera and microphone.
+Calls are scheduled in advance and are held on each Tuesday of each month at 10:00, 12:30 or 18:30 GMT or BST. Topics are agreed in advance.
+When it is time to start a call, a voice and video conference is opened up which has thumbnails of each video participant and any shared presentations or desktops. The call leader facilitates the call and the discussions and tries to get through the agenda in the agreed time. Zoom has two views available. The first is the speaker view which selects the video stream from the person speaking. The second is Gallery view which shows streams from all participants.
+If you would like to try out Zoom, then there is a test meeting service where you are the only participant and you can experiment with the various options available.
+<WRAP button>[[http://zoom.us/test|Test Zoom]]</WRAP>
+This link is available to anybody, not just members of the virtual area group.
+</WRAP>
 ----
-Members can access more information [[areagroups:vag:vag_page_internal|here]].
+<WRAP button>[[areagroups:vag:vag_page_internal|VAG Members Page]]</WRAP>