IRC for Beginners (IRC Client)
IRC v6.31, Windows

Other Guides

Introduction

There are loads of ways to connect onto IRC (internet relay chat) – one of the most commonly used client is mIRC. You can download it here. If you wish to learn all about IRC this isn’t the place for it (mostly I’m just attempting to write up a guide for how to get on UtoNet, which is the utopian server on IRC).

Setting Up mIRC for the first time

Run mIRC. Press Continue when a box asking you to register appears. Even if it appears as ‘expired’, mIRC is still shareware hence free to use – you just have an annoying waiting time after clicking continue.

An mIRC Options box should appear.

Go to Servers section, click the Add button (Right hand side). Fill in the details: (view image)
Description: UtoNet
IRC Server: irc.utonet.org
Ports: 6667
Group: Utopia
Password: leave blank

Click Add and you should see the UtoNet network on the IRC Servers: list. Click the Select button.

The Connection tab should load – and you fill in the blanks! Usually just stick random information in, all that is really important is the Nickname field – which is what your screenname appears as in chatrooms.

Click the Connect button after you have filled in the necessary information. You may on occasion see a firewall message asking you whether or not to allow mIRC to connect out – click yes.

Registering your Nickname

Once connected onto IRC, you may register your nickname by typing the command :

/ns register password email

Next, check your email for an authentication code. Follow the instructions included. Type:

/ns auth abc123

with the authentication code that was sent to the email.

Now your nickname is registered J Everytime you join, remember to type /ns identify password or you can set it up to do it automatically [scroll downwards for information]

Commands for Dummies

These are the commands you will need to know!

/join #channel - joins you to a channel, where you can talk to people or just idle
/query nickname - opens a private window to talk with a particular nickname only
/nick newnick - changes your nickname to newnick
/ns identify [nickname password] – identifies you as owner of that nickname

To talk or use any command, just type in the bottom of the window and press enter.

Highlights

Highlights make your mIRC play a little sound or flash when someone says a particular word (usually set to your nickname). It's useful to let you know if someone wants you, without having to check the mIRC window all the time.

Go to Tools --> Address Book --> Highlights
(For versions before 6.3, go to Tools --> Options --> IRC --> Highlights)

1. Check the box beside Enable highlight
2. Click the Add button
3. $me means whatever your current nickname is at the moment. You can of course put some other text in if you wish such as an alternative nickname.
4. Selecting an orange Color will make any lines that contain your highlight word (any current nickname in this example) show up in orange
5. Click the No Sound button once so that it says Beep. This will make your mIRC beep once when someone says your highlight word
6. Flash message will make the mIRC button flash in your desktop's toolbar when it is minimised and someone says your highlight word
7. Tip message will make a small window (a balloon tip) pop up near your desktop toolbar when someone says your highlight word

Press OK and you're done!

Automatic Commands

mIRC can execute a series of commands upon connection. Go to

Tools --> Options --> Connect --> Options

Click the Perform... button

1. Check the box beside Enable perform on connect

2. Select the network. Click the Add button and select UtoNet from the list of networks. Press OK and choose UtoNet from the drop-down menu.

3. Enter the commands you want, such as channels the login command (ns login password) and join commands for channels you hang out in.
Press OK and you're done!

♥ puppy101