What is IRC?

IRC stands for "Internet Relay Chat". It was originally written by Jarkko Oikarinen in 1988. Since starting in Finland, it has been used in over 60 countries around the world. IRC is a multi-user chat system, where people meet on Channels (rooms, virtual places, usually with a certain topic of conversation) to talk in groups, or privately. There is no restriction to the number of people that can participate in a given discussion, or the number of channels that can be formed on IRC. (Read more on how IRC started in http://www.mirc.co.uk/help/jarkko1.html and jarkko2.txt

What software do I need?

To join in you will need to load mIRC or Pirch or use Microsoft Chat (amongst other programs).

mIRC is found on many cover discs - or at www.mirc.com

MS Chat is part of Win98.

Many of us use scripts for mIRC. Make sure you download a script suitable for your version.

What server should I use?

A server is a computer that links you to other people to chat with. There are several. I use IRCNet and DALNet. Blueyonder has an Undernet ( http://www.undernet.org ) server. It is located at Surrey.UK.EU.Undernet.Org. There are also EfNet and Duckweb to name a few more. Many of us currently use tucny.thew3rd.co.uk

How do I join a channel and get into a chatroom?

Having got your program sorted out you then connect to DALNet (or another server) and enter the a room (eg #newbies). See below for more instructions. Other servers can be used if one is not letting you connect try another. (On IRCNet BTInternet customers can't use the Demon server so we tend to use BT's server or the New York one. If all else fails find the server in Finland, this one always seems to work.). For Dalnet we tend to use lineone.uk.eu.dal.net

This is the main screen you get when starting mIRC (or Cupidz). This one is already connected to the staffroom but it gives you an idea.

view sample screen shot

Click on the second icon (it looks like a folder) to get setup options.

view sample screen shot

Here is where you set the server (in this case to IRCNet EU UK London (BT)). You also choose 2 nicknames that you will be known as on IRC . If one is unavailable then it will automatically use the second. If both are unavailable it will ask you to change your nick.

Now click on the 4th icon from the left (looks like lots of folders)

view sample screen shot

Type #newbies in the box and click on add, then make sure it is still selected and click on join.

You will then get the opening screen - after a bit of loading going on.

view sample screen shot

The right hand side tells you who is in the chat room. You type at the bottom and the chat appears in the main big window.

You can set the options to auto join the chatroom once you've managed to log on. If I'm on when you are just ask me how to do it. Its under File Options. I am usually found in #staffroom on IRCNet or in #cableinetters on Dalnet.

Here is my options screen - on the perform tag.

view sample screen shot

Which room do I want to join?

On IRCNet

#newbies - learn what to do in this room

#staffroom is my hangout - for teachers to chat about hippos and chocolate

#fairyland - come and meet Tinkerbe| and kb.

#italia - hundreds of Italians in here to annoy - or you could practice your Italian language skills.

On tucny.thew3rd.co.uk (or chex.thew3rd.co.uk, quake.thew3rd.co.uk)

#cableinetters - chat room for users of Cable Internet

#by-users - for the makers of this site - replacement for #ciu on IRCNet.

Are all #staffrooms the same?

No they are not. If you join the #staffroom on IRCNet you will be chatting to different people than if you connected to DALNet.

Basic mIRC Commands

/JOIN #channel

Join the specified channel.

example: /join #irchelp
This will make you join the #irchelp channel. Once on a channel, anything you type will be seen by all the users on this channel. The #irchelp channel is very useful, so say hello and then ask any questions you want. If the channel you specified doesn't exist, a channel with that name will be created for you.

Some channels may also have keys ie. a password, which you need to specify when using the /join command.

example: /join #irchelp trout
This will make you join the #irchelp channel using "trout" as the password.

/ME message
Tells the current channel or query about what you are doing.

example: /me is crying

would show as :

*angua is crying

/MSG nickname message
Send a private message to this user without opening a query window.

/WHOIS nickname
Shows information about someone.

/NICK nickname
Changes your nickname to a new nickname.

/QUIT [reason]
This will disconnect you from IRC and will give the optional message as the reason for your departure. (this message only appears to people who are on the same channels as you).

example: /quit That's all folks!

/TOPIC #channel newtopic
Changes the topic for the channel.

example: /topic #friendly Oh what a beautiful day!

/MODE #channel +o nick

makes someone a channel operator.

example: /mode #staffroom +o angua

This would make angua a channel operator in staffroom (assuming you are an op first). Operators can make other people operators - set channel options, kick and ban unwanted people from a channel etc.

Also see www.mirc.com for latest versions, servers and FAQs.

Last Amended : 2003-04-01 by elfin
Original Author : Angua