How to Configure Internet Relay Chat (IRC)

1. Download an IRC client program for your computer. One of the best ones is called mIRC, and you can download it from the web page http://www.mirc.co.uk. Run the setup program that you've downloaded to install mIRC on your system.

2. Configure it to use a nearby server on EFnet. The nearest one to Newfoundland is irc.nbnet.nb.ca in New Brunswick. You can set up mIRC to use it by going to the File menu and picking Setup. Press the Add button, and in the window that appears, type in a Description (eg. "New Brunswick") and the address (irc.nbnet.nb.ca). Click the Add button to put it in your server list. On the main Setup screen you'll need to type in your Full Name and E-mail Address (both of which can be fake if you want to remain anonymous), as well as a Nickname (the name you'll be known by when on IRC) and an Alternative (in case someone else is using the primary Nickname you chose).

3. Once dialled in to your Internet provider, press the Connect button on the Setup screen (or the spark icon in the upper left-hand corner of the main screen) to connect to the server. Once on, you can get a list of all currently active channels by typing /list in the status window and join a channel by typing (for example) /join #gaystjohns . Note that you can join several channels at once, but it gets hard to manage screen space (not to mention juggle conversations) with any more than a few at one time.

4. There are lots of options you can customize (mostly under File --> Options and Tools) such as automatically connecting to a server and joining your favorite channels when you connect, etc. You can also transfer files (such as pictures) to the people you're chatting with using DCC.