Essex Ham has today launched some new email discussion groups, to see if members find this a useful way of communicating. If you want to give it a try, here are the basics:
What is an email discussion group?
If you’re familiar with Yahoo Groups or Google Groups, then you’ll be aware of the concept. Essentially, when you sign up, you’ll be able to send an email to a special group email address, and your message will be shared with the rest of the group. Sometimes known as an “email reflector”, these are a great way to follow a discussion, or have new discussions emailed to you as they happen – much easier than logging onto a forum to see what’s new. Hopefully a fast and easy way of sharing information.
We tried the system before, with a Yahoo Group, but there wasn’t much interest. Following some member feedback, we thought we’d try again.
We’re using a service called groups.io this time around, which seems to be a pretty popular system.
Will I get spam?
Hopefully not. Only those registering with our group will be allowed to post, and you can choose whether to get all messages as they’re sent, a digest of 12 messages, a daily summary, important messages only, to get no messages and read online only. Unlike Yahoo Groups, you can mute discussions you’re not interested in, and follow threads of interest using #hashtags
What Groups are available?
The one I’d like to draw your attention to, is called Essex Ham Group Discussion. This is intended for discussion of amateur radio activity in Essex, questions and support for Essex Ham members, and a place to make suggestions or ask other amateurs in the county. If you’d like to give it a try, go to https://groups.io/g/essexham and follow the sign-up instructions 0 it’s as simple as typing in your email address.
Your membership request will be held for approval, which I’ll sort as quickly as possible. The only other thing I’d ask, is that you set your display name as your first name and callsign, so that everyone sees a name and callsign. Fake names or anonymous accounts are likely to be removed.
There are two other groups we’re trying:
- UK Amateur Radio Training Group – Intended for active UK trainers, assessors and exam secretaries only please
- HamTrain Discussion Group – For those on our free Foundation Online courses only please
Other ways to chat
We offer quite a number of other ways to stay in touch with Essex Ham. In case you’ve missed any of them, here’s a list:
- Essex Ham forums – Several of these are available, including area for chat, hardware support, training, for sale and a hidden members-only forum
- Essex Ham Chatroom – that’s active during the Monday Night Net and YL Net
- Essex Ham Facebook Group – Occasional discussion and great for fast response
- Facebook support group for M6s – A good idea, but zero interest, sadly.
The new Email Discussion Group is live to see if there’s any member interest, so if you fancy trying a new way to keep up-to-date with ham radio in Essex… please give it a try! As always, feedback and suggestions welcome!
Pete M0PSX
