Differences

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

--- public:vag [2020/07/03 09:11] – uppermill
+++ public:vag [2023/04/18 13:31] (current) – [Who is the leader of the group?] grovenor
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 ~~NOCACHE~~
+~~NOTOC~~
 <WRAP hide>
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 </WRAP>
-====== MERG Virtual Area Group ======
+<WRAP notice round centeralign>
+====== MERG Virtual Area Group (VAG) ======
-<WRAP info centeralign button>[[:public:areagroups|Area Groups]] [[:public:start|Public pages]] [[https://www.merg.org.uk/index.php|MERG Home page]] </WRAP>
+</WRAP>
+<WRAP box round>
+<WRAP group>
+<WRAP column quarter>
+[[https://www.merg.org.uk/index.php|MERG Home page]]
+</WRAP>
+<WRAP column quarter>
+[[https://www.merg.org.uk/content/areagroups|Area Groups]]
+</WRAP>
+<WRAP column quarter>
+[[https://www.merg.org.uk/content/knowledgebase|More on our Knowledgebase]]
+</WRAP>
+<WRAP column quarter>
+[[areagroups:vag:vag_page_internal|VAG Members Page]]
+</WRAP>
+</WRAP>
+</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? =====
-<WRAP hide>
+<WRAP help round button>
-***************************************************************************
-Replace NN with the number of your area group - get from the AG admin page.
-Update the contact form title.
-***************************************************************************
-</WRAP>
-<WRAP help round button>
 \\
-[[https://www.merg.org.uk/areagroup.php?area=28|MERG Virtual Area Group contact form]]
+Please indicate Virtual Area Group in your message **[[https://www.merg.org.uk/contactus.php?t=1&n=28|Contact MERG ]]**
 </WRAP>
+===== Who is the leader of the group? =====
-=== Who is the leader of the group? ===
 <WRAP hide>
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 <WRAP info round>
 \\
-Allan Geekie\\
+Huw Griffiths.
 </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? =====
 <WRAP hide>
 ****************************************************
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 </WRAP>
 <WRAP info round>
-The Virtual Area Group uses a Zoom video call to meet every Tuesday for an hour or more.\\
+The Virtual Area Group (VAG) is for MERG members only and was started primarily for those too distant from their nearest Area Group. It only meets using Zoom.
-\\
-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.
+During the first two years of the VAG we regularly welcomed members from Australia, Canada, Iceland, Ireland, UK, USA etc and varied weekly meeting times to try to make the calls work for different time zones.
+Many Area Groups have switched to using Zoom during Covid and so, temporarily we hope, created many other options for joining in.
+At the start of 2021, after a break in the programme and with those other MERG Zoom options which are accessible to members in the western hemisphere, the plan is to resume VAG meeting only once a month on a Tuesday at 10am UK time which suits members in Europe and the Australian times zones.
+Meetings are nominally for an hour but typically Zoom will open 15mins before and for 30 mins afterwards for informal chat.
+Calls may be recorded and made available all MERG members.
 </WRAP>
-=== And the Next Meeting? ===
+===== And the Next Meeting? =====
+Look in the MERG Diary or "My Upcoming Events".
 <WRAP hide>
 ***************************************************************************
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 </WRAP>
-=== How are Topics Chosen? ===
+===== How are Topics Chosen? =====
 <WRAP info round>
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 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
+  * How kits work - a series of calls, each discussing the how one particular kit works. Several done.
   * Types and use of baseboard connectors - covered in Demystifying Components -Wires and Connectors
-  * Oscilloscopes and logic analysers for hobbyists - now scheduled
+  * Oscilloscopes and logic analysers for hobbyists
   * 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 has already been presented.
   * 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
+  * CBUS wiring strategy on a large club O gauge layout. Done.
   * CANPAN wiring
   * Servo and Servo Mounts
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 </WRAP>
-=== How do Video Calls Work? ===
+===== 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.
+To join in you may need to add a headset with microphone and optionally a camera to your device, if they are not built in. You will receive a link which will get you into the meeting, automatically installing Zoom on your device if necessary.
-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.
+Calls are scheduled and topics announced 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.
+Zoom provides thumbnails of each video participant and any shared presentations or desktops. The call host facilitates the meeting/questions/discussion. Zoom has developed a lot during Covid and I can't describe all the features here.
-<WRAP button>[[help:making_video_calls|Want help in making video calls?]]</WRAP>
+Usually everyone mutes their microphone to avoid a lot of noise from phones, clocks chiming, family activity etc. To speak you can just press the spacebar to (after a slight pause) temporarily unmute.
+You can select among several icons to, for example raise a hand, clap, agree, vote etc. Useful for questioning.
+You can also type "chat" either with everyone or with a selected participant. This is quite a good way to have a one-to-one conversation without involving/annoying everyone else. It can also be used to distribute weblinks etc although there are many other ways to "share" (with permission) screens, documents, open apps, whiteboard and so on.
 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.
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 This link is available to anybody, not just members of the virtual area group.
 </WRAP>
+<WRAP box round>
+<WRAP group>
+<WRAP column quarter>
+[[https://www.merg.org.uk/index.php|MERG Home page]]
+</WRAP>
+<WRAP column quarter>
+[[https://www.merg.org.uk/content/areagroups|Area Groups]]
+</WRAP>
+<WRAP column quarter>
+[[https://www.merg.org.uk/content/knowledgebase|More on our Knowledgebase]]
+</WRAP>
+<WRAP column quarter>
+[[areagroups:vag:vag_page_internal|VAG Members Page]]
+</WRAP>
+</WRAP>
+</WRAP>
+----