IRC is based round interconnected servers which the user runs an IRC client program to connect to. Each user on an IRC network must have a unique nickname and can join one or more channels. They can also send and receive private messages and even transfer files. --"Andrew Crawford."

IRC is organized in channels on a specific topic. On average there are about 18000 users and 5000 channels on IRC worldwide.

Click HERE or HERE for more info. about IRC

Click IRC Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)

IRC FAQ by Hellen Rose (Trillian)

A Short IRC Primer Edition 1.1 B by Nicolas Pioch

Undernet IRC FAQ Part 1 and Part 2

An IRC user wrote:

"Unlike the World-Wide Web, which first-time users can pick up quickly, Internet Relay Chat may seem difficult the first time you log on. Once you've mastered a few basic commands, however, IRC becomes easy to use. "

Logging on. Most of these non-UNIX clients require that you have a SLIP or PPP account and some kind of TCP/IP software(like trumpet etc...). First of all you need to install an IRC client on your machine before you can connect to an IRC server. " Once you're logged on, the first thing you'll want to do is choose a nickname; everyone on IRC uses one. Say you decide to call yourself Snowbird. Just type '/NICK Snowbird' on the command line. Note the / before the command; all IRC commands begin with the forward slash. " --IRC user

IRC clients

Macintosh IRC Clients are Ircle, Homer, and MacIRC

Ircle is a Macintosh program to use IRC (Internet Relay Chat). Ircle is compatible with all Macintosh models, from the Macintosh Plus to PowerPC's. You need to be running System 7.0 or higher with MacTCP installed. You can download it by clicking HERE

Homer is another Mac IRC client that has a rather nifty features such as reading conversation to you, fancy visual interface, etc. You can click HERE to download 890K Homer 0.94 with data client. Also, there is Homer 0.93.4 serial version of Homer, It does NOT require MacTCP and a SLIP or PPP connection, but is a bit more limited than the TCP version. Check the extension documentation for details.

MacIRC MacIRC is a new IRC client for the Macintosh written by Chris Bergmann MacIRC is available for download in several places, via FTP and the Web. The ftp.macirc.com and www.tiac.net sites will always have the version mentioned on this page; other mirrors may be a version or two behind. You canclick here to download or find out more info about it at http://www.macirc.com/

Windows IRC clientThese pages attempt to provide you with the latest info on the freeware IRC Chat client mIRC. mIRC is an IRC Chat program made for Windows only. You can down load from the client from the above link.

You can also try InterFACEM is quote: "An exciting new IRC client for Windows which features pictures and sound. " It has similar features as the Mac's "HOMER" irc client

UNIX431K ircii2.8.2-EPIC3pre6.tar.gz CLIENT "The IRC client choice of advanced ircII scripters. The author HOP did a most excellent job of adding all sorts of nifty things and fixing bugs that have plagued ircII scripters over the years that phone couldn't be bothered with. Has the -l -b switches needed to run bots. " -- "Dead Elvis"

366K ircii-2.8.2.tar.gz CLIENT "If your root don't want users to run bots then grab this. The -l & -b switches have been ripped out of this client so no bots. Seems silly when most people are running C bots lately(which don't use the ircII client at all)".-- "Dead Elvis"

Here are other unix clients

UNIX X-Window Try HERE

Once you have installed IRC client, then you need to connect to IRC server, below are information on server network and names in which you can try and use.

"An IRC server is a computer which allows other computers to connect to it using an IRC client. The IRC server is responsible for the work of keeping track of users and channels, and for the sometimes demanding task of making sure that all the channel and private messages go to the correct place. Servers can be linked together to form an IRC network. " --Andrew Crawford.

#siam #thailand #thais #thais are located in EFNet IRC network EFNet (Eris Free) is the largest IRC network with about 8000 online users on an average day. Because of its massive size and older, less effective scripts, the EFNet is having alot of problems with lag, netsplits, op hacking and various "wars". But it is still the most popular IRC. There is an EFNet server list available here

index of all the IRC networks in the world. Beside EFNet, there are many other IRC network such as Undernet, DalNet, AnotherNet, UpperNet, Chiron, KidLink, Superlink,... etc.

List of IRC Servers indexed by country.

"Logging on. If you use windows to connect to the internet you need to install an IRC client on your machine before you can connect to an IRC server. Once you're logged on, the first thing you'll want to do is choose a nickname; everyone on IRC uses one. Say you decide to call yourself Snowbird. Just type '/NICK Snowbird' on the command line. Note the / before the command; all IRC commands begin with the forward slash.

Finding a channel. On IRC, all the chatting occurs on "channels," just like on a CB radio. There are some more or less permanent channels, but others come and go. There can easily be over 3000 channels available. It would be great if you could get a list of all those channels containing only the witty and wise, but you can't. Instead, you have to use the LIST command, which lists all public channels, the number of users on each and a topic description for those that provide it. Since you'll mainly be interested in active channels, you can limit the list only to those with, say, five or more users by doing '/LIST -min 5'.

You'll also notice that virtually all channels begin with #. To join #siam just type: '/JOIN #siam' and voila , you're in. Type in some greetings and you'll see them appear on screen, along with whatever everyone else types. You'll probably feel lost at first, since you're popping in on a conversation that's already in progress. In fact, several conversations may be going on at once.

Action commands. You'll notice dialogue, but you'll also encounter what might be called "actions." A line might come over saying "Sylvester blushes deeply." You can enter a similar expression by using the simple command /ME, as follows: '/ME heaves a weary sigh'. It will appear onscreen to all as "Snowbird heaves a weary sigh."

Switching channels. When you're bored with #siam you can join another channel (type /JOIN and then the name of the channel) or simply leave (type /LEAVE #siam).

Private conversations. If, lets say, you want to speak to Sylvester privately, you can use the /MSG command, as follows: '/MSG Sylvester What do you say we go off to our own little channel for awhile?'. The /MSG will open a private conversation to Sylvester. Nobody can interfere in your private chitchat now !

In my view, private conversations are one of the handiest things about IRC. Aside from meeting new people, then, IRC is also good for saving on phone bills, holding conferences or practicing a foreign language. If you're in New York and your former college roommates are in Boston, Dallas and Seattle, you can make an IRC date, set up an IRC channel and even use /NOTIFY to be informed when they log onto IRC so you can /INVITE them into your private channel.

Just beware: You, too, could become a candidate for alt.irc.recovery. Even nice people can get hooked !! "

This section will come a bit later