The Virtual Area Group uses a Zoom video call to meet every Tuesday for an hour or more.

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.

Allan Geekie - you can contact Allan using the MERG Area Group contact form

In April 2020 we carried out a poll of VAG members and the following topics were identified as the most popular: -

• 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.
• 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.

• Neater Methods of under board wiring
• Best practice for wiring different bus types
• Layout control buses
• CBUS wiring strategy on a large club O gauge layout - scheduled
• CANPAN wiring
• Servo and Servo Mounts
• Building CANVOUT
• Prusa 3D Printer
• 3D scanners
• Photogrammetry - generating 3D models from multiple photographs
• CBUS Beginners Kit.

Members can suggest topics at any time using the member email system.

Members can access more information here.