Join the new world

Alright, as I am the Deputy Minister of IRC, I feel obliged to give you instructions about how to properly get on IRC. Some of you might already keep me company in the eSouth African chat channel, but do that with one of those dreadful Java clients like mibbit or use that almost as terrible Chatzilla client.
Although it gets the job done, it is much more ‘comfortable’ to use a decent stand-alone client like mIRC. And for new people who aren’t on IRC yet, it is the right way to start using IRC!

1. Get mIRC at the following link: http://www.mirc.com/get.html
2. Once installed, you will be presented with a ‘nag screen’ saying that this is a trial version and only valid for 30 days. However, mIRC will continue to work after these 30 days. Mine is currently at 445 days.

3. mIRC will immediately present you with the options screen.



At nickname, use your ingame nick. The alternative name must be something else than the nickname. This name is used when you are ‘double’ on a server, which can happen if you disconnect and reconnect while the server hasn’t dropped your first name yet.

Now you have to fill in ‘Name’ and ‘Email’ too, but those two do not have to be real, you can put in nonsense if you want, like I did in the example. I strongly advise to NOT use your real name and email address.
 
4. Choose the correct server.
After you have filled in your or ‘your’ details, you’ll need to choose the correct server as mIRC isn’t pre-configured to the correct server for #esouth_africa.

Go to the Servers category, right under Connect. You’ll see a long list of servers.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

#esouth_africa is on irc.rizon.net. This server is listed as Rizon: Random Server in the list. Doubleclick that one, and you are ready to connect. Now go back to the ‘Connect’ menu, press connect and there you go!

5. Join the chatroom itself!
You will be presented with what is called the ‘Status window’. You need to do one more simple step to join our cozy chatroom, and that is typing:

/j esouth_africa

...in the chatbar.

Then a new window will open up with a list of names in the right and probably a lot of spam on the left side of the window. And that’s it! You are all ready for a much better chat experience. Wasn’t too hard was it 🙂. Next time you start up the programme, you just press the connect button and type /j esouth_africa again in the chatbar.
____________________________________

Hoe om ordentelik op mIRC te kom!
As onderminister van die departement van IRC voel ek myself verplig om julle aanwysings te gee hoe om ordentelik op IRC te kom. Party van julle is alreeds in die eSouth_Africa kletskanaal, maar gebruik die verskrikkelike Java kliente as ‘Mibbit’ of daai amper so verskrikkelike Chatzilla klient. Goed, jy kan daarmee praat op IRC, maar daar dit is baie gemakliker om ‘n losstaande IRC toepassing as mIRC te gebruik.

1. Kry mIRC by: http://www.mirc.com/get.html
2. Na die instalasie sal daar ‘n venster verskyn wat sê jy kan die program slegs vir 30 dae gebruik. Jy kan dit gerus ignoreer, want die program bly ook na ‘n maand volledig funksioneer. My instalasie is al reeds 445 dae oud.
3. mIRC sal onmiddelik die konfigurasieskerm wys.



Gebruik vir ‘Nickname’ jou eie Erepublik-naam. Die alternatiewe naam sal gebruik word vir as jou eerste naam al reeds op die server is. Dit kan gebeur as jy die verbinding met die server verbreek en weer opnuut verbind sonder dat jou eerste naam al reeds van die server verwyder word. Dit sal omtrent vyf minute duur voordat dit reggestel is.

Die naam en e-post adres vakke moet ook ingevul word. Dit is beter om nie jou eie naam en e-pos adres te gebruik nie, maar ‘n willekeurige onsinnige naam soos wat ek hierbo in die voorbeeld gedoen het.

4. Kies die korrekte server!
Nadat jy jou besonderhede ingevul het, moet jy nog die regte server kies. mIRC staan na die instalasie op die verkeerde server ingestel.

Klik op ‘Servers’ onder die ‘Connect’ opsie. Daar kom ‘n lang lys van servers tevoorskyn.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

#esouth_africa is op irc.rizon.net. Die server is aangedui as Rizon: Random Server. Dubbelklik daarop en waarna jy weer na die ‘Connect’ menu toe gaan. Jy is nou reg om te verbind! Klik op ‘Connect’ en daarshy.

5. Kom binne in die kletskamer!
Daar sal ‘n venster met baie tekst tevoorskyn kom. Dit is die sogenaamde ‘Status-venster’.

Tik /j esouth_africa in die onderste balk om by ons by ons gesellige kletskanaal binne te kom.

As jy dan ‘n nuwe venster met aan die regter kant ‘n lys met name en aan die linker kant ‘n hoop geklets, dan het jy dit mIRC suksesvol ingestel. mIRC sal die instellinge onthou vir die volgende keer as jy die program weer aansit.
Daar hoef dan net op die ‘connect’ knoppie links-bo geklik te word en jy sal onmiddelik weer verbind word by Rizon. Vervolgens moet jy weer /j esouth_africa intik in die onderste balk om binne te kom by die kanaal.