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IRC Knowledgebase

What is IRC?
IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat. IRC is real time chat and is the fastest way to get in touch with people in the How to Watch Anime Club as well as fansub groups, other MAL clubs, anime fan sites, and even anime torrent sites. There's usually always people idling in the "channels" or chat rooms so responses are quick.

Why should I use IRC?
Because it's fun of course! If you enjoy our club and communicating with other members then you can chat with us in real time with minimal hassle. Talking on the forums isn't nearly as spontaneous and gratifying as conversing about anime live. Of course, we don't just talk about anime. We also talk about manga, games, events, food, life, etc. It's also a fast way to get in contact with admins if you have any questions or problems you need addressed immediately

Didn't I hear something about anime trivia somewhere?
Yes, we mentioned it in the newsletter and the front page comments several times. If you like trivia, then you can compete with other anime geeks to see who is king otaku! To start trivia, all you have to do is type !trivia when you enter our channel.

Oh snap, you can find and download an anime on IRC?
Yes, rizon is home to a lot of fansub groups and a lot of them offer anime directly and release faster than through torrents.

Where are you guys on IRC?
We are located on server irc.rizon.net in channel #howtowatchanime

I'm sold! How do I install it?
Well, you can either install an IRC client like the ones listed below or you can chat through the web if you are on a machine that can't install anything. Also, if you have an IM client like pidgin or trillian you can use that too. It is preferable that you install a client like mIRC and leave it on forever. That way you have faster access to chatting whenever you want.

Windows
miRC (Freeware) - Download / Guide
Chatzilla (Firefox Addon / Freeware) - Download / Guide
xChat (Freeware) - Download / Guide

Linux
xChat (Freeware) - Download / Guide
Irssi (Freeware) - Download / Guide

Mac OS X
Colloquy(Freeware) - Download / Guide

Web
QChat / Guide
Mibbit

Universal IM Clients
Pidgin
Trillian

The guide isn't listed / isn't there an easier way?
Yes, here is the easy / generic way to get started.

Quick and easy start guide
These are generic instructions for multiple clients / programs and are suitable for those who just want to chat as soon as possible without using the web chat. Make sure you replace nickname with your nickname, email with your email, and password with your password.

Install and open your client, find your way to the chat room text box, and type the following commands one by one into the text box, hit enter, wait for the prompts to finish, and type the next line until you are in the channel.



After you /msg nickserv with your email, check your email and follow those steps to register your nick on rizon. Then whenever you want to reconnect, all you need to do is type



whenever you log on instead of registering.

Testimonials
its "so easy, a caveman can do it." I just wish i learned about all of this earlier in life - darklite

Setting up and using mIRC

Note: if you can't handle this, join our web chat here.

Step 1: Downloading

Download the latest version of mIRC here.

Step 2: Installation

Browse to the mirc635.exe file you just downloaded and double click it to run it. You will be greeted with an installation screen as shown below. Click next, read through their license agreement, and click I Agree. After that, install it to the default directory C:Program FilesmIRC or similar by clicking next. It will install the program and display a confirmation screen when it is completed. Click finish and proceed to step three.


Step 3: Configuration
When you start up mIRC you will be greeted with the options screen. Fill in your full name, email address, nickname, and alternative nickname. Keep in mind none of the information on the "Connect" Dialog has to be real so feel free to use a fake email/name. Your nick name however will be the name displayed in the chatroom and the alternative is the one to use name is unavailable.


Step 4: Connecting to Rizon server
After you configure your options, you have to connect to the rizon irc server. An irc server is like a web server for chatrooms. While a web server holds the data for web pages that you visit through your browser, an IRC server houses the chat rooms where you chat with other people live. The rizon server is an anime only server and it is where the majority of MAL clubs, anime fan sites, anime torrent sites, and even fansub groups hang out. By connecting to the rizon server, you can talk in multiple chatrooms with multiple groups at the same time!

To connect to the irc server you have to

1) Select server (it's right under Connect on the selection menu on the left hand side)
2) Scroll down and select Rizon (it's in alphabetical order) and hit the select button
3) Click connect
4) A favorites dialog box will popup after you successfully connect, uncheck pop up on favorites on connect and hit ok.





Step 5: Registering your nickname

Now that you have logged in, you can register your nickname (assuming it is still available by typing

Replace yourpassword with your password of choice and youremail@yourdomain.com with your preferred email address. After that, you will receive a confirmation email at the address your specified and you have to confirm it by clicking the link in the email.

Step 6: Auto-logging in

Now you need to instruct mIRC to perform specific commands whenever you start up mIRC. This will allow you to auto login whenever you start up mIRC. It is kind of like saving your password for gmail or Instant messenger but more powerful.

1) On your toolbar, select tools -> options and the options dialog box will pop up.
2) Select options (under connect) and click the perform button
3) Check perform on connect
4) Click the Add button
5) Select Rizon and hit OK
6) Type the following:

Make sure YourNickname is your nickname and YourPassword is your password. Now whenever you start up mIRC and click connect button on the toolbar you will auto login to rizon and join the howtowatchanime channel.


Step 7: Joining the #howtowatchanime channel

Now all you need to do is type /join #howtowatchanime in the text box on the bottom of the window and hit enter and you will join our channel. Type whatever you want into the text box and you're chatting live!

If you have any questions let us know. More guides will be added in the future including how to download anime from fansub groups and support for other clients like Firefox addon Chatzilla!

QChat aka. Browser IRC chat

I'm sure many of you guys would love to harass your HTWA admins on IRC (Internet Relay Chat) since they're so fun to tease. Well, I'll be guiding you on how to set up an account on QChat.
The site is:
http://qchat.rizon.net/?&channels=%23howtowatchanime

Firstly, open up any internet browser that you like. I'm using Google Chrome because google is <3. :D


You see the "Connect to Rizon IRC" thingy?
Put in your desired nickname. It can be anything. However, we would prefer you to put in your MAL username since it will be easier to identify you. Allows us to know the identity of the person harassing us. :P
After putting in your nickname, click connect.


You're suddenly transported to some weird text thingy! OHMAHGOSH! WHAT SHOULD WE DO?
Just wait. Nothing will happen. Do not close your browser. This is very normal (no sarcasm intended).


WHATTTTTT?! A HUGE WALL OF TEXT APPEARED! WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Throw a pokeball and wait. Don't close your browser.


This should appear after a while. This is the usual introduction. Feel free to read it.
There's nothing important anyway. Heh.


Now, look at the bottom of your browser. You should see a long white text-bar-thingy. Thats where you chat and harass your admins. But first, let's create an account first.
This is the format to create an IRC account:
/msg nickserv register YOURpassword YOURemailaddress

Don't change the /msg nickserv register part.

By the way, if you're afraid of pressing the enter button cause you think everybody will see your password, no, it doesn't show the password to everyone.


Check your email. Something like this will appear. Follow the instructions that the email says. Don't worry. Nothing sarcastic here.


Remember the instructions the email gave you? You can just copy and paste the text it showed you if you're just as lazy as me. :D


If you've followed all my instructions, this should appear.
This message just indicates that you have successfully created your account and you're free to provoke your admins! Isn't that great?

Logging In

Of course, if you have finally got yourself an account, you will also need to know how to log in right, desho?


Same way we started. Enter the username you've registered with. :D


Type the following:
/msg nickserv identify YOURpassword

Of course, do not change the /msg nickserv identify part.
And again, no, your password won't be show to everyone.
Enter.


This message simply means that you've successfully logged in! Aren't you glad? :)