Chatting is a way of communicating via the Internet. It is similiar to email in some regards but differs in that it allows you to ``chat" in real time. Messages you type show up on the recipient's computer moments after you send it, and then they can respond quickly back to you. In this way, chatting lets you talk to people around the world.
If you have additional questions about chat, check the links below or read the online documentation for the chat client of your choice. Internet Alaska does not provide support for chat software.
What is IRC?
The IRC, or Internet Relay Chat, is a place where you can chat with other people from all around the world on a number of different servers.
IRC is not secure
Since IRC is not secure, please do not give out sensitive information such as your address, phone number or password. This is important enough to repeat. Never give your password to someone in the IRC. If you did give it to somebody, please change your password immediately. This is to protect your account and our system.
Nicknames
When you log into IRC, you will need your own nickname. Be sure to think of a few. IRC is a big place. At any given time, there might be thousands of people logged in. Each of those people must have a unique nickname. If the one that you want is taken, keep a back-up or two in mind.
Lag Time
IRC connects people from all around the world. There might be a "lag" time between when you send a message to when others receive it. If you find the lag time too great, try connecting to another server.
Servers
There is more than one IRC "world." Each of them has its own collection of IRC servers that you can connect to. Here are two such server lists. (Most of the Internet Alaska staff uses the Undernet servers.)
Channels
There are hundreds of IRC channels that you can visit. Here are a few to get you started.
Channel Names
IRC Channels ("chat rooms") all begin with a # sign. When entering into a new channel, don't forget to put in the # before the name. For example, you might visit the #pets or #dennys.
