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public:westmids [2019/12/16 04:49] – [Saturday 12th October 2019] allan_gardnerpublic:westmids [2020/08/03 11:40] – uppermill
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-====== MERG West Midlands Area Group ======+~~NOCACHE~~ 
 +~~NOTOC~~
  
 +<WRAP hide>
 +****************************************************
 +Replace Somewhere with the name of your area group.
 +****************************************************
 +</WRAP>
  
-[[public:areagroups|Return to Area Groups News]]\\  +<WRAP notice round centeralign> 
-[[:public:start|Index to other public pages]]\\  +====== MERG West Midlands Area Group (WMAG) ====== 
-[[https://www.merg.org.uk/index.php|MERG Home page]]\\  +</WRAP>
-==== Contact Us ====+
  
 +<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> 
-To contact us use the MERG West Midlands Area Group contact form here [[https://www.merg.org.uk/areagroup.php?area=17|]] +**************************************************** 
- +Replace photo with a area group meeting photo 
-For MERG members, you might also like to look at our [[https://www.merg.org.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=110|area group forum.]] +**************************************************** 
- +</WRAP> 
-==== Co-ordinator ==== +<WRAP box round centeralign> 
- +{{:public:wmag1.jpg?400|}}  {{:public:wmag_tony_.jpg?400|}} 
-Allan Gardner +</WRAP> 
- +===== How do I contact the Area Group =====
-======  MEETINGS  ====== +
- +
- +
- +
- +
-//The next meeting of the West Midlands Area Group will be://+
    
 +<WRAP hide>
 +***************************************************************************
 +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=17|MERG West Midlands Area Group contact form]]
 +</WRAP>
  
 +===== Who is the leader of the group? =====
  
-===== Sunday 12th January 2020 ===== +<WRAP hide> 
- +**************************************************** 
 +Replace photo with the names and titles of leaders. 
 +**************************************************** 
 +</WRAP> 
 +<WRAP info round>  
 +\\ 
 +Allan Gardner M6237 - //Group Leader// 
  
 +</WRAP>
  
-At **Titford Pump House, Engine Street, OLDBURY, West Midlands B69 4NL**.+===== Would you like to join today? =====
  
-[[https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Titford+Pumphouse/@52.4966868,-2.0095574,19z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x48709794db0b2afb:0x85f894929c8ab6f8!8m2!3d52.4966868!4d-2.0090102|Google Map]]+<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/areagroups.php|Join the West Midlands Area Group]]</WRAP> 
 +Select **West Midlands Area Group** from the drop-down list in **Other Area Groups** and press the **Subscribe to Area Group** button. 
 +</WRAP>     
 +<WRAP clear></WRAP>
  
-==== About Titford Pump House. ==== +===== How do you meet? =====
-   +
-//There is plenty of car parking – mostly on Engine Street, some within the pump house compound. The address above includes a Google maps link. All facilities are at ground level.//+
  
 +<WRAP hide>
 +****************************************************
 +Provide meeting details
 +****************************************************
 +</WRAP>
  
-==== This months topics: ====+<WRAP info round>  
 +In normal times we meet at the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society's premises Titford Pump House, Engine Street, OLDBURY, West Midlands B69 4NL.\\ 
 +<WRAP button>[[https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Titford+Pumphouse/@52.4966868,-2.0095574,19z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x48709794db0b2afb:0x85f894929c8ab6f8!8m2!3d52.4966868!4d-2.0090102|Titford Pumphouse]] 
 +</WRAP>
  
- +\\ 
 +There is plenty of car parking – mostly on Engine Street, some within the Pump House compound. The address above includes a Google maps link. 
  
-We welcome John Gower who will give talks on: +All facilities are at ground level.\\ 
-=== 1.Decoder steam sounds and their relation to the real thing, and what to look for in buying a DCC system   ===+\\ 
 +We meet four times a year in January, April July and October. We hold two meetings on a Saturday and the other two on a Sunday. \\ 
 +</WRAP> 
  
-=== 2. Fitting Decoders with emphasis on DCC === 
  
- +<WRAP alert round 75% center> 
 +**//GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS ON GATHERINGS AND TRAVEL//** Due to the restrictions we are unable to meet at the moment.  We have a meeting scheduled for October but clearly we remain in uncertain times. 
 +</WRAP>
  
 +===== What does the group get up to? =====
 +<WRAP box round leftalign>
  
 +Our days meeting normally starts at 10:00 am and concludes at 16:00. 
  
 +The day is split into two parts.  
  
 +The morning session is more formal in so far as we have one or more guest speakers.  The topics are far-ranging. Take a look at the next section to see some of our previous meetings.
  
 +The afternoon session is informal and generally consists of:
 +  - Members working on their current project (normally a KIT).  We will do our best to help with construction and problem-solving. 
 +  - Talking to presenters about the days topic.
 +  - Passing the day talking all thing model railway electronics.  
  
 +We charge a modest £3 for the day which we donate to our venue host for the use of the Pumphouse.
  
 +We do not charge for tea and coffee or the various superb cake that is kindly supplied by one of our members' wives.
  
  
  
 +<WRAP centeralign>{{:public:wmag_dkr_test_board.jpg?500|}} {{:public:wmag_dkr_schematic.jpg?240|}}</WRAP>
 +</WRAP>
  
- +===== What Have We Done Previously? ==
- +
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-==== Programme ==== +
- +
    
-=== 10:00 Coffee & Registration ===+<WRAP box round> 
 +<WRAP borderlesstable> 
 +|[[public:wmag_gallery|Click here for a Gallery of events]]|
  
-=== 10:15 Welcome Introduction: Allan Gardner === +{{:playground:wm_jan2019_doug.jpg?200|}} {{:playground:wm_jan2019_1.jpg?250|}} {{:playground:wm_colin.jpg?250|}} 
-  +</WRAP> 
-//Housekeeping//: Fire exit & procedure, First aid, Toilet, Dishwasher.  +</WRAP>
  
-//Other matters// Arduino Course Update, shows & Exhibitions. 
  
  
  
  
-=== 10.30 Talk 1 === 
  
 +===== And the Next Meeting? =====
  
- +<WRAP box round borderlesstable>  
 +<ORG34>ALL|100|17|NO</ORG34> 
 +</WRAP>
  
-=== 11:30 Refreshment Break === 
  
-Tea, Coffee, and cake.+===== What is Happening Online? =====
  
-=== 11:45 Talk 2 ===+<WRAP box round borderlesstable> 
  
 +{{:public:msag_zoom_icon.png?30 |Zoom online Meetings}} Currently, WMAG members are participating in the Zoom calls being organised by the nearby East Midlands, Warwickshire and North Oxfordshire and the Virtual area groups.
  
 +Some forthcoming activities are as follows: -
  
-=== 12.45 Discussion: Any Questions and any Answers!! ===+===== East Midlands Area Group =====
  
-Opportunity to discuss things further.+The East Midlands Area Group hosts a very popular call once per month.
  
-=== 13:00 Lunch === +<ORG34>ALL|60|2|NO</ORG34>
- +
-Bring your own or eat loads of cake!  +
- +
-=== 13:30 Practical Workshop Session 1 === +
- +
-John will be with us all day so, take the opportunity to delve deeper into today’s subjects. He has offered to bring the kit locker with him so plenty of opportunities to stock up on MERG Kits.  If that's not your thing then work on your current project.   We will do our best to help with construction and problem-solving.  Bring your own tools including your soldering iron.  +
- +
-=== 14:30 Refreshment Break === +
- +
-=== 14:45 Practical Workshop Session 2 === +
- +
-Continuance of the practical session  +
- +
-=== 15:45 Clean up, Wash Up and close === +
- +
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- +
-////  +
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-===== Interested in attending? ===== +
- +
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-The meeting is open to **all** MERG Members. +
- +
-To give us an idea of numbers, could you let us know you are coming by contacting me allanhgardner@gmail.com or use the MERG contact form above. +
- +
-We will need a contribution of £3 to cover the costs of the meeting. +
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-===== Meeting dates for 2019 ===== +
- +
- +
-The dates below are for the quarterly meetings for 2019. +
- +
-  * Winter - Sunday 13th January +
-  * Spring - Saturday 13th April +
-  * Summer - Sunday 14th July +
-  * Autumn - Saturday 12th October  +
- +
- +
-We have booked the Titford Pump House for these dates.   +
- +
- +
- +
-===== Format of Future Meetings ===== +
-  +
-We are seeking views from members with regards to the structure and format of future meetings. +
- +
- +
-The areas we would welcome comments on are: +
- +
-  - Fixing dates for the next year +
-  - Saturday or Sunday +
-  - Venue +
-  - Meeting format  +
-  - Speaker and contents +
- +
-If you have a view on any of the above, please share with the co-ordinator using the contact form above.   +
-===== Previous meetings ===== +
- +
-==== July 2019 ==== +
-Electrostatic Discharge:  What it is and Why it is Important.  David Roberts +
- +
- +
-David will explain to us what Electrostatic Discharge is, how it is caused and the damage that it can cause to modern electronic devices and systems. Simple and affordable measures to mitigate the problems will also be described.  +
- +
-The Theory and Practice of a Simple MERG Kit: David Roberts +
- +
- +
-Some of us assemble kits without knowing very little about the types of components used and why they are important.  David’s presentation will consider a simple MERG kit – the CANACT – look at the components used and explain why they are chosen and how it works. +
- +
- +
- +
- +
- +
-==== April 2019 ==== +
- +
-  +
- +
-  +
- +
-What is Arduino and what can it do for railway modellers +
- +
-Tony Chamberlain and Dave Thomas will present all things Arduino +
- +
-==== October 2018 ==== +
- +
- +
-=== ‘Wiring and Power supplies for the Railway Modeller’ === +
- +
-We were delighted to welcome David Roberts as our keynote speaker on that occasion.   +
- +
- +
- +
-David gave two talks in the morning.   +
- +
-The first one, focused on **wiring for the railway modeller** and included +
- +
-• Theoretical aspects of electrical wiring +
-• Design & Implementation of electrical wiring +
-• Examples of wires, tools and terminations +
- +
-His second talk was **Power Supplies** and explored: +
- +
-• History +
-• Direct Current (DC) Supplies +
-• Linear Mode Supplies +
-• Switch -  mode Supplies +
-• Sources of Power Supplies +
-• Commercial Devices +
-• Surplus Computer Supplies +
- +
- +
- +
-  +
-====  July 2018 ==== +
- +
- +
-Howard Watkins as our keynote speaker. +
- +
-The theme of our meeting was ‘Back to Basics’  +
- +
-//AM  - Two talks given by Howard to include//  +
- +
  
 +===== Warwickshire and North Oxfordshire Area Group =====
 +Our colleagues at Warwick and North Oxford AG are holding  biweekly virtual meetings on a Wednesday evening.   East Midlands AG are also holding monthly virtual all-day meeting. The schedule of both these groups is given below.   If you are interested in attending these groups sign up here and select ‘join area group’.
  
-- Theory and practise of Soldering. +<ORG34>ALL|60|23|NO</ORG34>
-- Tools and Supplies +
-- Component recognition +
-- Using LEDs+
  
 +===== Virtual Area Group =====
  
 +The Virtual Area Group offers short one hour presentations and discussions every week. Active participants call in from Australia, Canada, Ireland, Icelend, UK and USA.
  
-//PM  - Practical 'HANDS ON' session to include// +<ORG34>ALL|30|28|NO</ORG34>
-an opportunity to build a track tester,+
  
 +</WRAP>
 +===== What Local Organisations do we work with? =====
  
 +<WRAP hide>
 +****************************************************
 +Link to local model railway sites.
 +****************************************************
 +</WRAP>
 +<WRAP tip round>
  
 +The MERG West Midlands Area Group have attended model railway exhibitions, organised by the following clubs: -\\
 +\\
 +[[https://www.staffordrailwaycircle.org.uk/|Stafford Railway Circle]]\\ {{ :playground:wm_staffs2019.jpg?400|}}
 +\\
 +[[http://bournvillemrc.co.uk.websitebuilder.prositehosting.co.uk/|Bourneville Model Railway Club]]\\
 + \\
 +[[https://www.warley-mrc.org.uk/|Warley Model Railway Club]]\\
  
 +</WRAP>
  
-==== Links ==== 
  
-[[:helpsystem:coordinators|Help page for coordinators]] 
public/westmids.txt · Last modified: 2024/02/15 09:41 by allan_gardner
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