IRC FAQ
Here is a list of FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) which should help you on your way to IRC and #sailors.
What is IRC ?
IRC (Internet Relay Chat) is an interactive service of the Internet which allows you to have real-time conversations with people all over the world. IRC is where the Net comes alive! Programs called IRC clients instantly let you send text messages to thousands of users currently connected to the network.
There are several IRC Networks like Dalnet, Undernet or EFNet. Each network consists of a certain number of servers linked together.
How do I connect to IRC ?
Simply get an IRC client. Most of these make the process of connecting very easy. However you have to decide which network and which server you want to connect to. Most clients have built-in lists of networks and servers. You will also have to enter your real name, your email address and a nick.
Here is the info you need in order to connect to Dalnet:
Server: irc.dal.net
Port: 6667
What is a nick ?
On IRC you are known to others by a nick (short for nickname). You are free to choose any nick you like, up to 9 characters long. Do not use spaces and avoid unusual ASCII characters in your nick. It is also very common to find people that use the same nick and you may be asked or choose to switch nicks to avoid confusion.
Which server shall I connect to ?
The choice of a server is very important in order to avoid lag. Sometimes you may even get lost in netsplits. You should choose the server to which most of the people you want to talk with are connected.
What is an IRC client ?
An IRC client is a program which allows you to connect yourself to the IRC network. Popular programs are mIRC for Windows and Ircle for Macintosh.
What is an IRC channel ?
On the IRC network, it is not uncommon that thousands of channels are open simultaneously. They can be compared to chat rooms or discussion groups. For instance, #sailors is a channel. All channel names start with a #. To get a list of all available channels (caution: the list may be very very long and may crash your IRC client) type /list in your IRC client. By the way, every command on IRC starts with a /. You can be on more than one channel at the same time.
What is a private chat ?
The conversations are not limited to what is going on on channels. You can have private conversations at the same time. IRC clients have different ways of opening a private conversation, you should consult your client's documentation.
What is a netsplit ?
An IRC network consists of a certain number of servers which are connected to each another. Sometimes such a link between two servers is overloaded so that it is interrupted temporarily. The network then splits up into two networks, that is what we call a netsplit. During a netsplit you are completely cut off from the other half of the network. After a while, the servers are reconnected to each other, that is what we call a netmerge.
What is lag and how can I avoid it ?
The delay between the sending of a message and the other side receiving it, is called lag. It is caused by heavy-traffic between two servers. You can avoid this by choosing a server which is nearer (preferably the same) to the ones your conversation partners are connected to.
What is a Channel Operator ?
A channel operator is someone with a @ by their nickname in a channel's names list. Channel operators are the "rulers" of a particular channel. This means they can kick you out of their channel for any reason.
What is an IRC Operator ?
An IRC operator (IRCop) is someone who maintains a server or part of the IRC network. IRC operators do not meddle with channel politics - that's the job of channel operators.
Who is H_LunaP , H_LeadCrow, Draganta, LunaBall?
H_LunaP is a bot (short for robot). A bot is a script running on a server. Channel Operators may have a look at the command list by typing $ophelp to check if they know all of the commands available to them.
Which commands are available and what are they for ?
There are a lot of commands available and the less basic ones differ from client to client (consult your client's documentation for those). However, some very basic commands are the same in every client :
What shall I avoid in a channel ?
Once you've joined a channel, there are a few things that are worth remembering. Repeating your text in the channel, or entering several lines of text at the same time into the channel (for example through the use of a script - if you don't know what that is, don't bother :) ) will only serve to annoy the channel because you're forcing everyone in it to read your stuff.
The same applies to overusing CAPS (which is considered shouting), using bold and colors (which are only used as a means to getting others' attention and really just annoys them).
Generally the best way to measure whether something is acceptable to the channel is to ask yourself 'would I really do this if this were a real life situation and I was actually sitting in a room with all these people on the channel?'. If the answer is 'no way', it's a better idea not to do it. :)
One last word...
Those are the basics - now you should be ready to get on IRC and join us. See you on IRC !