MASNA IRC CHAT

We have created an IRC Online Meeting Room called #masna. This has been setup due to the problems some of our members had been experiencing with the Java chat rooms. The room is open to all MASNA members and hobbyists for their use at any time that a formal meeting or conference is not in progress.

Accessing #masna

IRC (Internet Relay Chat) is a group of networks that you can connect to, using a special program (client) such as mIRC. Anyone else on the same IRC network as the one you're connected to will be able to communicate.

IRC Programs:

The first thing you need to do is download and install an IRC program. These can be downloaded on this site by clicking on the appropriate button below and can also be found at:

The mIRC Homepage at: http://www.mirc.com   

These files are just under 1 meg and will take about 7 minutes to download at 28.8.

An excellent tutorial for installation and setup can also be found at:
www.mirc.com

Setting up mIRC for Windows:

Once you've got the program set up in Windows by running the install program, you are ready to connect. Make sure you're online! Close the window with the picture of the author and the registration info. A window called “mIRC Setup” will pop up. You need to add your name and email address, and then a nickname down at the bottom!

The #masna Chat Channel is located on DalNet: United States

With the latest version of mIRC there should be a list of servers above where you typed in your name. If you do not have the Xnet: United States Server listed in your server list, you will need to add it manually, and then CONNECT! To add it manually, click on add after closing the registration window and enter the following information:

        Description:    DalNet: United States
        Server:           irc.dal.net
        Port:                7000

If your nickname is already used:

If you log on and it pops up with a bunch of beeps and some purple messages on the screen (after you log on), you need to change your nickname. Do that by typing “/nick <new nickname>” This is because two people on the same server cannot have the same nickname. Don’t worry! You're past the hard part!!!

Connecting to the right channel:

OK, assuming you're now connected to a server, tons of useless information will zip past at high speed. Then, a window called “mIRC Channels Folder” will pop up.  You can choose #masna from the channels list by double-clicking on it or type the name of the room, #masna. Then press “Join!”.  If it's not in that window, just type "#masna" in the blank at the top and click on "add --> ok  --> "join".   You should now be in a room called #masna. If you came during a meeting, there will be some names on the right side of the window. These are the other people in the room. To talk, you just type in the blank line at the bottom and hit "enter". Your message will appear in the window.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to an anti-spamming feature in the software, entering a long message or paragraph of text will cause you to lock up so please keep it to just a few lines at a time and if you have more to say end your statement with 3 dots (...).

Private messages:

The easiest way to send a private message to a person is by double-clicking on their name in the attendees window.

Saving Transcripts/Logs:

After you've installed the program, close the registration window. Now go to to the upper left of your menu bar click on FILE --> OPTIONS --> IRC--> LOGGING If you check AUTOMATICALLY  LOG CHANNELS and PRIVATE CHATS, the program will automatically save a log/transcript of all of your online activities including any private messages sent to you. The logs will be stored in c:\mirc\logs by default if this is where you installed the program. In some versions of mIRC,  logging is automatic.

To get a timestamp of all events, go to IRC and check TIMESTAMP EVENTS. That's it!