Beginners IRC (Internet Relay Chat)

You might be asking yourself "What is IRC"?

Well firstly IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat.

It is a form of text communication through an internet connection. It is mainly used by groups or websites to keep in touch with their visitors and members but can be used by anyone for just about everything.

IRC was created by Jarkko Oikarinen in August 1988 to replace a similar program called MUT (MultiUser Talk).

IRC works on TCP/IP networking, which means virtually any computer (and mobile device) can connect on an IRC server.

There are many many IRC clients available on the internet, some are free and some aren't.

I have narrowed your options down to 2:

1) Use a search engine and search for "IRC client"
or
2) Use one that I use

If you chose option one and have obtained an IRC client, proceed to the next step (How to connect to a server)
Otherwise chose from my list of preferred IRC clients.

I use a few IRC clients, and here is my list of IRC clients I like to use.
(I use a PC, If you use a Mac or another operating system then it is better for you to search for an IRC client for your system)

IRC clients that I recommend:

XChat - http://xchat.org/
XChat is an IRC chat program for both Linux and Windows. (FREE!)

IceChat - http://www.icechat.net/site/
IceChat is a popular IRC Client that can be used in Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP/2003/Vista and also Windows 7. (FREE!)

Once you have downloaded and installed your IRC client. Open it up and lets carry on.....

For this section i'm going to use IceChat (because I use that more).

Generally, other IRC clients should work the same. If they don't then refer to their manual (usually on their website or in their install directory), otherwise you can just give me a message through my profile, i'm always willing to help.

It is pretty simple to connect to a server. Usually you go to File -> Connect to server, but this can automatically connect to a default server that the client has added already.

So you might have to add a server to the client's list, to do so find a button or menu (usually in the File menu) that sounds like "Add a server".

For means of this "lens" (tutorial) we are going to add the QuakeNet (Quakenet.org) server.

To do so, go to your client's "add a server" menu or dialog and enter the following in the appropriate fields:

Server or Server Name: irc.quakenet.org
Port or Server Port: 6667

Then click Add or Accept.

Then use the connect method I mentioned earlier to connect to the server, or try double click the server if it is listed in a visible list.

While attempting to connect to the server, commands and messages are being sent from your client to the server.
To tell if you have connected to the server correctly try joining a channel shown in the next section or wait for a MOTD (Message of the Day) to appear. (You usually know that the MOTD has appeared when a the (END OF /MOTD) text appears.

When you are satisfied, proceed to the next section.

If there are problems, don't hesitate to contact me and I will get back to you at the soonest moment.

Okay, so now you'll want to join a channel or "room".

That is simple, using the example of Quakenet from earlier, I'm going to show you how to join the #help channel on that server.

While you have the server window open from connecting earlier, type the following in the text box used to send messages:

/join #help

It's that simple, just remember to put the # sign before the channel name in order to join it properly.

Now that you have successfully joined a channel, it's best to register your nickname, so that noone else can use it. Remember that this only applies for that server and you will have to register your nickname on the servers that you want to keep. In other words, if you want to keep that nickname, register it on that server.

Okay, the final step in Part 1 of my beginner's IRC tutorial.

To register your nickname and prevent it being used by others, go to the server window again and type the following in the text box (like when you joined the #help channel) :

/msg NickServ REGISTER *password* *email*

Where *password* is, type your desired password
Where *email* is, type your email address.

Check your inbox and activate if needed.
If the server doesn't use this method, refer to the server website or contact me and I will try to help you.

Note that QuakeNet doesn't support NickServ, but does allow for accounts to be created on their website (quakenet.org)

Well that's it for part 1, look out for Part 2, where I show you:

Different Useful Commands
How to create a channel
How to register your channel
How to op users
How to auto-op

Please comment on this and let me know if you need more help.
My contact details are in my profile.

Enjoy! and keep chatting......