ACIP is currently using the Castlenet-IRC network for SIMulation, Meeting, and Chatting purposes.  We can be reached by going to irc.castlenet-irc.org  If you are new to IRC, please see the instructions that follow this.

For those people who have never been on IRC (Internet Relay Chat), or who have never heard of it, here's a little introduction on making it online so you can talk to other members of ACIP. 

Your first step for getting onto IRC is to download a program that will allow you to connect.  Most of our members use mIRC, so for the purposes of connecting, this guide will instuct you in setting up the mIRC program.  There are of course other programs you can use, just use a search engine like Yahoo or Lycos and look under IRC.  If you do this though, you're on your own.  Use the link at the top of the page to get to the mIRC web site.  Download the 32 bit version if you're using Windows 95, or the 16 bit version if you're using Windows 3.1. 

Now that you've downloaded the file, run it.  This will install the mIRC program, go ahead and default through, it's painless.  When it's finished, you'll have a dialog box pop up that says it's done, go ahead and click on okay, this will close the box. 

Next you'll want to run the mIRC program itself, just go to the icon that has been created and run it.  When it opens up, you'll get a box with some guy's picture in it.  There's a box in the lower right hand corner, if you remove the checkmark, you'll never have to see that face again.  Close the box by clicking on the X in the upper right-hand corner of the window. 

The next thing that will pop up is something asking for your information, like your name, your email address, and what nick you want to go by.  Fill this stuff in, you can put in a fake name and e-mail if you want.  Then click on the "okay" button on the bottom.  Note:  Do not click the "Click to Connect Button" this will not connect you to the Castlenet Network where ACIP is located. 

Next, you will have a window that says "Status" on the top.  Type in /server irc.castlenet-irc.org  This will connect you to the Castlenet servers where ACIP. 

Next, you want to type in /join #ACIP   This will cause you to join the ACIP main channel, the Ten-Forward Lounge.   This is where our members go for casual conversation and SIMming.  If you see people with @'s by their names, they are Channel Operators, they enforce the rules, they can also help you if you have any questions.  Many of the other people who are in #ACIP can help you as well, all you have to do is ask!  Just go ahead and introduce yourself and say hello.  If there's some one in there and he/she doesn't respond immediately, don't worry, he/she is probably there, just not watching their screen, give them some time (-: 

If you need immediate attention type in /msg nick  'nick' being the nickname that the person is using on the channel, this will open a private dialogue between you and the person you specify, again, give them some time to respond, they may be away from the computer or working on other things and unable to immediately respond. 

Alright, I know all of what you have just read may sound a little confusing, my suggestion would be to print out these instructions and just follow them, step-by-step, one paragraph at a time, as you go.  I know for a fact that when many of us first started, we didn't know what we were doing either, with a little time and attention, you can learn alot from the other people.  Remember to never be afraid to ask questions because there's no such thing as a stupid question. 

Now don't think this is all you can do on IRC or all you can do with mIRC, I encourage you to look at the Help files that come with mIRC, they can tell you alot of interesting things you can do with the program.

Evelyn Hawke
Founder, ACIP