Here's some help for newbies interested in joining the #pwog IRC chat


 


Since I'm not sure how much you know about IRC and everything  I'll try to
tell you what I know and keep it relatively brief, but with enough detail to
get you started. If you need more specifics, just let me know.

First of all you need what is called an "IRC CLIENT" program on your
machine. This is completely separate from what you use to get on the 
Internet.  You can search Yahoo or other sites to find these programs. To get a
program, you need to download one from somewhere. The one I use is called
mIRC and the web site where you can find it is at
( http://www.mirc.co.uk/khaled. )
You could also use Yahoo or some other search engine to find IRC information.

So, download whatever program you want. If you have Windows 95, look
for a 32 bit program. If it's Windows 3.1, look for a 16 bit one. Etc. Etc.

Install it however it wants to be installed.
Sign on to the 'net.
Start the IRC program.

Look for a means of connecting to IRC. If you pick mIRC, there's a
popup that gives you a window with names in it and a button underneath that
says "connect to IRC server". Click on the downarrow next to the names and
you'll see all sorts of servers you can connect to. Scroll down until you
find one that's a) for Undernet and b) physically located near you (so the
response should be better). Try to connect to it. If you can't connect to
it, try another one that is for Undernet. Keep trying them until you can
connect. (You may want to mess with this a few hours before the official
chat!) If you get error messages, read them and try to figure out what they
might mean. 

When you get on, you can join the channel by typing /join #PWOG (and hit
). If no one else is there, you'll be the one that creates it and
there will be a little "@" next to your nickname. If someone else is
already there, they'll have the "@" -- that means that they are the operator
of the channel and have the ability to do things that you can't. Like kick
you (or someone else) out of the channel.  Or set the 'topic' for the channel.

Oh, one thing for mIRC that is probably available somewhere for the
other programs -- you tell it what nickname you want to use (I use MAO369
because that's what I used to use a few years ago -- MAO is too likely to
already be in use by someone who's a fan of Mao TseChung (sp?)) It asks for
your full name but you don't have to tell it the truth -- whatever you put
on that screen, others will be able to see when you get into IRC. So you
may want to just give it a nickname or your initials, or whatever. It's up
to you.

Here's another attempt to explain IRC -- if the above confused you, you might try this:

The Internet is composed of lots of different networks throughout the world.
Kind of like how the U.S. roadway system is composed of different roads --
some are Interstate, some are Intrastate, some are main roads, some are back
roads, etc. Once you get on, you can usually find your way to somewhere
else even if you have to go all over the place because of strange
intersections, etc.

So, IRC (Internet Relay Chat) is the name given to a type of network that is
connected to all these other networks that make up the Internet. (There are
different types of networks; one type will handle the kinds of requests that
allow you to "see" web pages", one will send email to other people, and one
will allow you to 'chat' with other people -- these are just some examples.)
Note that I say it's a "type" of network -- IRC is not the name of the
network, just the name of the type of traffic that it can handle. Kind of
like saying a highway versus a street -- for the first one, you think of 60
mph traffic, no stops, etc. A street, on the other hand, conjures up
thoughts of houses along the way, or maybe stores, but definitely not more
than about 45 mph (and probably less), with stop signs or lights along the
way.

The specific network that we use is called UNDERNET. I know a lot of people
like to chat on the network called DALNET. And there are at least two or
three other networks that are designed for IRC traffic. That's why it's
important to know, not only the name of the channel that you're going to
meet someone in, but also the name of the network. It'd be like saying
"I'll meet you at the intersection two miles from here," but two miles north
is where the highway intersects the street and two miles south is where a
popular back road intersects. You just need more information than the name.

Ok, now we know the network you need to get on. I'll discuss that next. To
get on the network, you have to have a "vehicle." In computer terms, that's
a program (more specifically, it's usually called a 'client.') It's not the
same program as what you use for email, nor is it the same program you use
to browse web pages. It's completely separate. There are several of these
programs available for you to download or possibly buy off the shelf. I've
always just downloaded one called mIRC from the Internet and used it. A
search would probably point you to several others. You may want to read
the descriptions for them and make up your own mind. You may just want to
shrug your shoulders and say "hey, if they use mIRC and it works for them,
I'll just join the crowd." It's pretty much up to you -- hopefully,
whatever program you pick has been tested well enough that it will work
consistently for you. (One reason I like mIRC -- a *lot* of people use it,
so I'm comfortable that it will work.)

You download and install, or buy and install, some IRC client program. Now
you need to use it. Well, first you need to connect to the Internet.
(Similar in concept to getting in your car and turning it on, I guess. Not
much you can do until you're actually 'out there,' you know?) So, fire up
whatever program connects you to the Internet and leave it running.
Minimize it or whatever so you can start up the IRC client program.

Here's where it gets tricky trying to describe what needs to be done. Since
I really only know what mIRC does, I'm going to try and describe in general
terms what needs to happen, but I won't know the specifics of your session.
Ok? Anyhow, one of the first things your client will ask you is to connect
to an IRC network. This is like deciding whether or not you want to get on
the highway or the side streets. Once you decide you *do* want on the
highway (or, in this case, on UNDERNET) you need to figure out how to get on
(i.e., do you take this entrance ramp or the one further down the road
that's longer and easier to use?) There should be a list of what are called
"IRC servers" somewhere for you to peruse. Find the ones that will connect
you to Undernet (I'm tired of putting that all in caps; it usually isn't in
caps, just the first character but I was trying to make certain you knew
that was the name and not some type of description!) Then try to connect to
one of those that is physically located the closest to where you are
physically located (again, we're back to the analogy of trying to find the
closest "on-ramp.") If you can't connect, try another one. If you still
have troubles, try reading the messages you get closely; maybe there's
something you haven't set up in your IRC client's options quite properly.
Sometimes, it'll tell you that a particular server is only for use by a
certain set of people. If you're not one of those people, you might as well
mentally mark off that server to ever try again --no sense in wasting your
time. Basically, because IRC is so popular, it can be hard to connect some
nights. You might want to try coming early to some chat if you *really*
don't want to miss anything just to allow for the possibility that IRC is
difficult to get onto.

Presuming that you've successfully connected, you should be sitting at a
screen which probably had lots of messages on it that you really didn't
understand. Not a problem; most people don't really read those anyways.
But you're on IRC and now you need to tell it where you want to go. Type
/join #pwog and hit the  key. This should take you into the #PWOG
channel. If you are the only one on that IRC network at that time in that
channel, you'll create it. If someone else already "joined" the channel,
they are the ones that created it and you'll join them. Either way, you're
in! You just type what you want and hit the  key and people will see
it.

Whatever client you decide on and download, I highly recommend taking the
time to read through the help information on the various commands that you
can issue. It's not a requirement, but there are several fun things you can
do that you may see others doing and wonder "how'd they do that" when -- if
you know how it's done coming in -- you can join in the fun right away!

 



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