On-Line Meeting Information

We are using Zoom for online meetings. This means you need to install the Zoom app on your device before you can use the service. The Zoom App allows participants to connect with a meeting on-line, sending and receiving both audio and video of the meeting. The link below takes you to the Zoom web site where there are instructions for installing the App. Once the App is installed and running, you need the meeting ID and the meeting passcode to join the meeting.

Downloading/Installing Zoom Software

It is not required to sign up for a Zoom account to use or access Zoom. However, having an account does allow you to set up your own meetings.

Install the Zoom software by clicking download. Downloading and installing varies by platform, but in general, save, then open the downloaded file.

On some platforms, it may be possible to use a web browser as a client for a Zoom meeting. This option may be useful if you are using a platform not supported, or not well supported, by Zoom.

Once the software is installed, click the meeting link below at meeting time to connect to the meeting. You may try the meeting link prior to meeting time to test out the software. Note that before the meeting is started the Zoom software simply waits for the meeting to start.

Starting Zoom

Please enter your first name and radio call sign to identify yourself on Zoom. For example Mike, KN6QI. If you don’t have a call sign, then use your first name, or nickname, and the initial for your last name. Example Mike L. This is more for convenience of our participants and is not mandatory.

Audio only Meeting via Telephone

You can also participate with Audio only Meeting by dialing one of the phone numbers listed below. The Audio Only Meeting via telephone does not require any software to be installed. Just dial the number, and when prompted enter the meeting ID, and if needed the meeting passcode. There are voice instructions.

Dialing these numbers may consume phone plan minutes, or incur long distance charges, so be aware of that. Most (perhaps all) cell phones now cover long distance for no extra charge. You may well have unlimited minutes and long distance included, but some landline plans do not. Be sure you don’t run up a big bill.

Meeting Etiquette

When connecting before the start of the meeting (7:20pm - 7:30pm), you should enable your audio and video to see that they are working. A bit of back and forth between participants during this period is acceptable.

Once the meeting has started (7:30pm) all attendees should mute audio. Enable audio only when you need to speak.

Check-in

At the beginning of the meeting we take check-ins much like on a radio net. We ask for check-ins by the first letter of your call-sign suffix. The suffix is the portion of the call-sign after the digit in your call sign. For example the suffix for “KN6QI” would “QI” and the first letter of the suffix is “Q”. When asked for call-sign suffixes “A through E”, then only those attendees with those suffixes should respond. This procedure reduces collision of speakers to a more manageable level. We make a final call at the end for those missed or who do not have call-signs, etc.

When checking in, you need to unmute your audio. Once you have completed checking in, you should mute your audio.

Asking Questions

Attendees should keep their audio muted during the meeting. You may submit questions via the chat feature to minimize the disruption to the program. Alternatively, you can unmute your audio to ask your question. You should mute your audio after asking your question.

Thanks

Thanks to Mikey, NE6RD for setting up and hosting many of our previous meetings on Zoom.

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