Before you can make use of channels on IRC, you must first connect
to IRC.
After you have a client and are well prepared in what to expect on IRC,
you'll need the name and port of the server, and the name of the channel you
want to join.
As we learned in our section on IRC networks, every network is comprised
of one or more IRC servers. You must connect to one of those servers, or the
network "round robin", to join the network.
For example, if I wanted to connect to Undernet, I would connect to an Undernet
server:
/server losangeles.ca.us.undernet.org
or the Undernet US round robin, which will assign you to any available Undernet
server:
/server us.undernet.org
The default port for IRC is 6667, but networks often add more ports to allow
users to connect quicker. Think of ports like a line of tollbooths on the
highway. You want to aim your car for the shortest line to get through quicker.
Most cars go to :6667 so if its available, you want to use another port...
say, :6668
Just add the port to the server name:
/server losangeles.ca.us.undernet.org:6668
That should get you on to Undernet. Now that you're there. where are you
going to go?
Finding and Joining Channels
If you are new to IRC and want to browse, it can be difficult to figure out
just where, exactly, you should go. Not to worry. Part of the fun of IRC is
visiting many channels to see which best complements your personality and interests.
Some basic commands:
#
Channels begin with # : #help, #trivia, #hottub
/join
The IRC command to join a channel is : /join
If you want to join the help channel, type /join #help
The slash /, the word join immediately after /join, the space, the # sign,
and the name of the channel
immediately after the # are all important.
join help will not work.
/join help will not work
/join#help will not work.
It must be correct all the way though: /join #help
Most IRC clients will give you shortcuts to make joining channels easier
- but its important to know these simple IRC commands so you are not locked
in to using one particular client.
/list
IRC networks tell users about their channels through the /list command.
If your client, and the network, allows this function, typing /list will return
a list of all of the channels - title and topic - on the network you are connected
to. Channels on other IRC networks will not appear in the channel list. Channels
that are set to "secret" mode (+s) will not appear in the channel
list. Setting your channel +s is like having an unlisted number in the telephone
book. Only people you want to know about the channel will know of its existance.
Also, most of the large networks somehow limit their /list returns so users
will not be flooded offline by the massive amount of information returned
- with populations the size of large cities, running /list on a large network
can result in an experience somewhat like having a telephone book thrown at
you, page by page.
As a general rule, most networks have #beginners, #help, and/or #newbies
channels for users new to the network to get their feet wet. Also be sure
to check the MOTD when you join. The MOTD, or "message of the day"
will often mention the name of the network help channel, and a few recommended
chat channels. You can ask also network staff and helpers for their channel
recommendations, and of course, when you make friends, they will often tell
you their favorite channels.
SearchIRC Channel Listings
SearchIRC brings /lists from IRC networks together in one searchable database.
We have many ways to help you find interesting channels on all IRC networks.
- Search by keyword. What are your interests - anime, adult
chat, music, movies? Would you like to brush up on your spanish or french?
Would you enjoy a tarot reading? Do you want to meet others in your city or
state? Do you enjoy math or like to play trivia? Need help with Linux? Just
type in the keyword and look over the results.
- Top Searches - This is a list of the top keywords submitted
by users. Clicking on each word will bring up many pages of search results
for popular subjects.
- Top Channels. These are the largest channels on IRC. Channels
with more than 300 users are often set to "moderated" (+m) to prevent
users from talking in the channel and flooding each other off. Such channels
are usually a gathering place for people to interact with each other, or with
bots, via message or DCC. As such, they generally aren't a good place to "chat"
- but rather a place to connect with others who share your interests.
- SearchIRC catalogues all IRC networks*. You can get a
good idea of what an IRC network is like by looking at its web page, top channels,
and motds. The graph on the top will give you an idea how stable the network
is. On each SearchIRC network page is a list of the top five channels on that
network. Click on "List channels by size", to get a good overview
of the most popular channels on the network. Browse through the first three
or four pages of results. Read a few of the server MOTD's, and review the
web page. Does the network look like a place you would feel comfortable? Remember,
the place you chat regularly will probably be the network where you will start
your own channel one day - so good services, staff, and support is important.
* Only handful of the 600+ active IRC networks SearchIRC
catalogues have asked us not to list their channels. Not all networks have
active channels at all times. SearchIRC also lists inactive networks, and
networks that have been closed, and indicates their status as such, bringing
the total to well over 700 IRC networks in our database.
/mode nickname
User modes tell the server what information to give out about a particular
user, and what commands a user may access in a channel.
/mode nickname +i makes a user NOT show up in /who lists
/mode nickname +x hides the user's hostmask with a network host
/who #help
Lists all -i users in the channel (If you are in the channel when issuing
this command, all users are listed, regardless of +i usermode)
Sample output:
#SearchIRC mregit H@
mregit@hidden.searchirc.org :0 mregit
^ name of channel ^ H
is here, @ is channel op real
name info
To talk in the channel, type and hit enter:
hello JoeBlow will show up as:
<mynick> hello JoeBlow
You do not have to type "<mynick>" as your nickname will automatically
be sent to identify everything you send to a channel.
Typing: /me is sooo happy today!
Everyone will see:
* mynick is sooo happy today!
If you join a channel that does not have any users in it, or start a new channel,
you will have "ops" or channel operator status. Once you have ops,
you can set channel modes and give other users access through voice and ops.
Read more about being a channel operator here.
/leave #help or /part #help
You leave the channel and can no longer talk in there.
If you are not in any other channels and text you send will be sent to the
status window and the client will tell you,
-
* You're not on a channel
-
/whois X
You can use this command to find out information about any user, including
network services!
-
X is cservice@undernet.org * For help type: /msg X help
X using *.undernet.org The Undernet Underworld
x End of /WHOIS list.
-
/nick newnick
Changes your nickname to "newnick" Of course, you won't want your
nickname to be newnick, so choose something else. :)
/msg newfriend hello!
Only newfriend sees your message. You can message anyone on the same network
as you, whether they are in a channel with you or not.
/dcc chat newfriend
Opens a direct client to client connection to newfriend, where you can speak
privately. newfriend may have his client set to refuse all DCC Chats, or to
ask him if he wants to accept a DCC Chat from you before opening the connection.
If so, he has to click on accept or type /dcc chat yournick. DCC transcends
lag because it does not go through the IRC network where most lag occurs.
As with all DCC connections, this can be subject to problems if one or both
users have firewalls, are on a lan, etc.
/ping #help
Ping is like sonar, it tells the pinger how long it takes their signal to
hit you and come back to them. This is helpful in determining lag amongst
the users in a channel. Users with less ping time will be faster to respond
to you. If a user has a long pingtime, they should change servers.
/ping newfriend
Gives information on the amount of lag between you and ONLY newfriend.
Some useful commands to help you find out about the network:
/lusers - no, not LOOSERS, its list users. lusers provides
information about the network
(graphic)
/links - tells the name of the servers on the network. Because
of server attacks, some networks have disabled /links.
/list - lists channels on a network. The larger networks often
have controls on /list so users are not flooded off or the servers overtaxed.
Use SearchIRC or put parameters on your list, such as /list >100
/help
Many clients have help files that will open on this command.
/quit Good night dear friends!
This disconnects you from the network with a signoff message ***
Signoff: mynick (Good night dear friends!)
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