Getting Started
By Richard “GameGuru” Grant
Now that you know a little about IRC and its history, and are reading this, it’s safe to assume you’re interested in trying out IRC for yourself. The first thing you will need before you can connect and use IRC is an IRC client. This guide will help you set up and use mIRC the windows client of choice, download and install it if you have not yet done so.
When you run mIRC you will be initially presented with the About dialog box, this can by closed by clicking on continue. You will then see the mIRC Options dialog box (if you do not, then press Alt + O to get it to appear.) You will first need to enter your details, type in something into the Full Name and email address boxes (you do not need to put in your actual name or email address, and it is recommended that you do not, but there must be something in them.) Next you must enter a nickname and alternative nickname, these will be used to identify you in IRC, so when you say something people know it is you that said it, try to be imaginative with your nickname as their can only be one instance of a certain nickname on a server, so choosing something that is likely going to be already in use will result in your frustration. If what you enter in the nickname box when you connect is already in use, mIRC will attempt to use the alternative nickname instead.
The invisible mode checkbox will make it so that users will only be able to find you if they know your nickname on the server. Otherwise when people perform the “/names” (this will be explained later) command on a channel they are not in, your name will be listed if you are present in that channel. Most people enable this, and whether you choose to do so or not is your choice.
Next click on the “Servers” category (on the left part of the window) or the sunburst button located towards the bottom of “Connect” category (the current one.) and select “QuakeNet: Random UK server” (or one closer to your geographic area, if in doubt just choose Random Server.) Finally click on the “Identd” category, check “Enable Identd Server” and enter something into the “User ID:” input box, be sure to keep it short (just put “user” if you’re in doubt.)
You’re now ready to connect to Quakenet IRC! Go back to “Connect” or “Servers” and click on the “Connect to Server” button. Depending on your connection speed you should hear a series of short beeps and a ream of text appearing on your screen. Once it all stops (usually with the last line being “YourNick sets mode: +i”) You should see another window appear. This “mIRC Favorites” window allows you to add channels that you can join automatically when you connect to Quakenet, or just make it easier to join channels. First delete all of the channels that are currently listed (if there are any) and then click on the add button. Enter #wireplay into the Channel input box, leave the password box empty and type a description if you so desire into the Description input box. If you always want to join this channel when you connect, then check the appropriate box.
Click ok, and then select this newly added channel in your favourites and finish off by clicking join. The window will disappear and you will now find yourself in your first channel. The IRC home of Wireplay!
You should also see a new window appear representing the activities of this channel, on the right side of the screen you can see the nicknames of all participants of the channel, including yourself, and on the left side of the screen you can see the activities from the participants (chat, actions etc.) being displayed. You will also notice that some users have an @ symbol in front of their names and others have a + symbol.
In order to be able to control users in IRC, so that it is not a complete anarchy, some users may be able to remove unruly visitors (either temporarily or permanently) or change channel topics and modes etc. These users are called Operators, and are denoted by the @ symbol in front of their name. Users with + in front of their name only have one advantage over normal users of the channel, they will still be able to send messages to the channel, and actions, when the channel has been moderated (or muted, i.e. had its +m flag set.) In Wireplay, most of the volunteers have a + symbol in front of their names, and the staff and some liaisons are the channel operators (have the @ symbol in front of them.)
So then, now you’re in the channel you will want to be able to talk, to do so all you have to do is type in what you want to say and hit enter. It’s that simple. Remember that whatever you send to the channel (when you hit enter) will be viewable by everyone in that channel. So if you’re trying to talk to just one person, make sure you add their name somewhere so they know its them that you are talking to.
