Here is a tutorial on how to get onto IRC.
1. In order to get on IRC, you need a client that can understand the IRC protocol. A simple IRC client for beginners is
HydraIRC. The most popular IRC client is
mIRC, but it can be challenging if you have never used IRC before. If you use Firefox, and would prefer not to install another program, you can get the
Chatzilla extension.
2. Once you have the program installed, open it up.
mIRCmIRC will also prompt you for information when you first open it. In the IRC servers pulldown menu, select, IRCHighway. The full name box doesn't have to be your actual name, and the email address can be bogus. Then type a nickname, and a different nickname into the nickname and alternate box respectively, then click ok. To connect to the server, click on the far left icon which looks like a lightning bolt.
HydraIRCIn HydraIRC, it will ask you if you want to set up an identity, click yes. The identity description is just a title for this grouping of information, you are not required to put your real name in the real name box, username can be anything, and nick is the name that will appear to other users. It is a good idea to add more than one nickname to the identity in case one of them is taken. The last two boxes aren't really necessary for our purposes, so you can just leave them blank. Click ok. To connect to a server, click on the far left button on the top (the power plug). Type "IRC://irc.irchighway.net:6664" in the URI box, and select the identity you just entered. Then click ok.
ChatZillaAfter you restart Firefox, go into Tools > ChatZilla to start up ChatZilla. The first thing you need to do is set your nickname, which is done by typing "/nick <nickname>" (Including the forward slash). To get to the server our channel is on, type /server irc.irchighway.net"
3. Before you enter our channel, make sure you aren't using someone else's nickname. You will see a message similar to this somewhere in your status window if you are:
-NickServ- This nickname is registered and protected. If it is your
-NickServ- nick, type
/msg NickServ IDENTIFY password. Otherwise,
-NickServ- please choose a different nick.
-NickServ- If you do not change within one minute, I will change your nick.
If you see this message, you must change your nickname, by typing /nick <new nickname>.
4. Type /join #[channel name] to get into a channel. For example, type /join #lurk to get into the channel #lurk.
5. Alrighty, now onto the good stuff. The first thing to do when you enter the channel is
READ THE TOPIC. The topic will contain important information that you should read before doing anything to avoid being banned.
6. Once you download the chapter, you're almost done! The chapter will usually be located in the same directory as where you installed your IRC client, or in a subdirectory probably called "download," unless you specified a different directory.
7. Unzip the archive and enjoy.
