The Basics of IRC


As of the end of August 1995, the IRC gang has decided to try out some new IRC servers, trying to get around the masssive EFNet splits and lags. The new servers of choice seem to be NewNet IRC machines. For complete server lists, software downloads and more, please see the NewNet home page. Have fun!
Thanks to Vince for the info and the research.
Larry Alexander has put together an IRC page with all of the newest, most relevant info. Check it out here.


Thanks to Larry Alexander for his hard work in creating this following document.
Please send any and all questions/problems with these procedures (if you have any) to Larry...

Where: On IRC (Internet Relay Chat) (See list of Efnet IRC sites below)
Channel: #Stern-Rules
Saturday Time: 5:00 PM Pacific, 8:00 PM Eastern

If you know about IRC, then you've got what you need. Make a note of it and see you there. Later.

For those who are staring like mental patients at your screen because you haven't got a clue as to what I'm talking about, read further, but first, be sure you know SOMETHING about computers so your head doesn't explode.

The IRC-Challenged Q & A

  • Q: What kind of connection do I need?

    Ask Crackhead Bob. But seriously, if you use an Internet Service Provider with a shell account, SLIP/PPP connection, you're in luck. If you're using one of those Swiss army knife suites of Internet software, look for IRC in the Help menu to find out how to start it up; I know Netcom NetCruiser has it.
    If you're using AOL, Prodigy, or Compuserve, they are Hoovering down your hard-earned $$$ in hourly charges per month for a piece of crap connection to the Internet that you can get for a flat rate almost anywhere. Basically, the online services are IRC challenged. If you can use their WINSOCK (techno-geek babble), get a separate IRC client. (See below).
    Nurse walks into the doctors office says "What are you doing". The doctor says "I'm writing a prescription". Nurse says, "But doc, you're holding your thermometer". Doc says "Jesus Christ, some asshole's got my pen!" c'mon, C'Mon, C'MON.. THAT WAS FUNNY! HA, HA, ha, ha... - Jackie Martling -

  • Q: So where do I get some 'o dat dere IRC software?

    If you're on the Web, go to:

    http://www.stroud.com/irc.html

    My recommendation is mIRC 4.0 or later. It seems to be reliable, there are versions for Windows 3.1 and Win95. It's got good features. It's free. It's easy to install. It comes with free Lee Press-On Lips. What the hell else do you want!?
    [Ed: For those of you who do everything in Netscape, here is an IRC plug-in for Netscape, called IChat].

  • Q: Where do I connect to once I get the software up?

    Here's the list. Connect to somewhere close, or we won't see what you're typing 'till next Tuesday. Some of the ISP machines like Netcom are only for Netcom customers. I have real good luck with the .edu machines. If you're on a campus, your system administrator may very well be wasting the institutions' money on an IRC server machine. Ask around. But make sure it's on the Efnet network like all of ones listed below, or else Oh yeah, you can type in the words like irc02.irc.aol.com or use the number 152.163.173.26.

                   Server          Server IP     
               -------------  ---------------
    
            irc.primenet.com    204.245.0.246
           irc.blackened.com   192.195.240.63
              irc.netcom.com     206.217.29.1
             irc2.netcom.com      199.183.9.7
    seltzer.csua.berkeley.edu    128.32.43.55
             irc.calpoly.edu    129.65.26.101
                irc.cerf.net   192.215.245.12
                irc.best.net      206.86.8.69
             irc.caltech.edu  131.215.134.130
            irc.stanford.edu       36.55.0.50
                 irc.uci.edu     128.195.1.18
              irc.portal.com    156.151.1.101
             irc1.portal.com     156.151.6.50
            irc.colorado.edu   128.138.129.31
          joyce.eng.yale.edu    130.132.20.72
              irc.bridge.net      204.253.4.4
                irc.gate.net     199.227.0.17
           irc.law.emory.edu   170.140.50.195
                 irc.ais.net     199.0.154.13
                irc2.ais.net     199.0.154.14
             irc.ecn.bgu.edu    143.43.32.201
                irc.uiuc.edu     192.17.7.229
               irc.ilstu.edu       138.87.1.7
                 irc.mcs.net   192.160.127.90
        irc.cnde.iastate.edu   129.186.202.53
               irc.digex.net   205.197.247.96
               irc-2.mit.edu       18.180.0.2
                irc.cris.com      199.3.12.20
    pegasus.ccs.itd.umich.edu  141.211.26.105
           irc.winternet.com   198.174.169.50
                 irc.umn.edu   160.94.219.158
                  irc.mo.net   199.250.196.13
    red-dwarf.cit.cornell.edu    132.236.56.9
              irc.cs.rpi.edu    128.213.4.197
             irc.stealth.net    206.26.140.20
      azure.acsu.buffalo.edu      128.205.7.6
         irc.frontiernet.net    204.168.13.13
           irc-2.stealth.net    206.26.140.20
        irc.usa.pipeline.com        38.9.10.2
          irc.ecn.uoknor.edu    129.15.112.34
               irc.ionet.net    204.96.200.25
            irc.voicenet.com    192.204.28.19
                irc.pitt.edu   136.142.185.34
                irc.epix.net    199.224.64.19
               irc2.epix.net    199.224.64.21
                 irc.cdc.net     205.217.64.5
             irc.phoenix.net       207.43.3.5
        piglet.cc.utexas.edu     128.83.108.3
               irc.texas.net    206.127.0.130
            anarchy.tamu.edu   128.194.12.120
             irc-2.texas.net    206.127.0.129
             irc.neosoft.com   198.64.213.130
           irc02.irc.aol.com   152.163.173.26
               irc2.magic.ca   199.166.230.85
             irc.magic.mb.ca    204.112.14.17
          portal.mbnet.mb.ca   130.179.16.140
          portal.mbnet.mb.ca   204.112.178.12
               irc.mcgill.ca    132.206.27.12
               irc.cs.mun.ca      134.153.1.2
                 elk.nstn.ca   137.186.128.21
            irc.vianet.on.ca    204.50.187.50
              irc.polymtl.ca      132.207.4.8
              irc.polymtl.ca    132.207.144.8
                  irc.io.org   198.133.36.153
         serv.eng.abdn.ac.uk   139.133.221.13
          stork.doc.ic.ac.uk     146.169.43.2
          stork.doc.ic.ac.uk      146.169.2.7
           serv.cs.man.ac.uk   130.88.229.190
         dismayl.demon.co.uk     158.152.1.76
                  irc.bt.net      194.72.6.52
    

  • Q: How do I get these sites into mIRC? I'm a lazy bastard and can't be bothered with no stinkin' help files.

    Select File/Setup/IRC Servers. You can copy and paste from the above list for all you morons who were actually considering typing in all this sh_t.

  • Q: When I finally connect, where do I go?

    First, send email to Tom Cruise (Tom Fooz, Jerry) and warn him about appearing with Kenneth Keith in his new movie. Then, if you're using mIRC, you may get the Join Channel box right away. If not, select "Join/Channel" and type in:

    #Stern-Rules

    Type it exactly as shown above, starting with the number sign, capped first letters, and dash.

    That's it. Even YOU could do it, even if you are as proficient with computers as Fred the Elephant Boy is with singing "California Girl".

  • Q: My Last Question... I Can't Get On! All the Sites Are Busy! What Do I Do?

    First, give yourself a high colonic with your garden hose (Ooooh). mIRC can be set to dial round-robin. Go to File/Setup/Options. All of the sites you highlight in your list of sites in File/Setup/IRC Servers will be called for the number of times you entered. It's like friggin' War Games. Don't give up!

    Oh yeah, and thanks to Richard Manning somewhere in the UK for sending me the comprehensive IRC list. If there really are members from other countries, write to me and I have sites worldwide. Except for the French, you cowards. (A joke, a joke... calm down).

    Larry Alexander: King of People Who Would Like to See Farting Balls Out of Your Ass for Distance Become An Olympic Event and Howard entered as FartMan.

    Olympic Announcer: "Fartman, what is the secret to your winning this event every 4 years?"

    FartMan: "It's all in the preparation. 7 lbs. of Kidney beans, 18 bowls of "Green Death" Chili, 22 BigMacs, 9 heads of cabbage, and 1 raw potato."

    Olympic Announcer: "Why do you eat the potato?"

    FartMan: "I don't eat it. It's to plug up my asshole, you asshole. In this event, as in most sports, timing is everything. Puh-leeeez!"


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    Last updated: 10-February-1998

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