Here is some quick instructions to setup mIRC so you can chat First go to http://www.mirc.com/ and download mIRC, save to your hard drive and install below you see their web page, click on "Downloads" then pick a state close to you.Once you have it installed and start mIRC it will popup a window like you see below, see the little white box in the lower left hand corner, if you uncheck that box you wont get that annoying popup box when you start mIRC, once you uncheck the box close that window.
The next box that will appear you will need to select the server you want to connect to pick the "Random US EFnet server" you also need to enter info in the "Full Name" box I don't enter my real name if you want you can same goes with the "Email Address" I make one up, use the "nickname" you want people to see in the chat channel I suggest you use the name you normally use on the message board so we know who you are, you also need to enter a second nick name in the "Alternative" box in case your first nick name is in use by someone else it will use your second name.
Next click on the "Options" and check the boxes like you see below
Click on "Perform" and check the "Enable perform on connect" and type in /join #ATV&Pilot by typing this in when you connect to the server it will automatically take you to the chat channel we use.
Then click on "IRC" and check the boxes you see below
Once you have this done go back to the "Connect" and click on the "Connect to IRC Server" button (see below) and the chat will start up.
Once your connected (connecting might take a while be patient and allow 5 minutes for this to happen before you get excited) another box will popup you can uncheck the "Pop up Folder On Connect" if you don't want that annoying box to pop up on connect, this is the channels folder you can enter other channels if you want but to find us you need to go to #ATV&Pilot .
If you want you can change the font by clicking the little icon in the upper left hand corner of each window and choosing the "Font" from the drop down list, there is a whole bunch of other options to choose here also.
You also can move the windows around to where you want them by clicking on the blue area at the top of each window and dragging it around, to talk in the chat window you type into the box at the bottom of each window, once in the channel you should see your nick name on the list at the right side of the chat window.
Ok this will get you started and into the channel there is a whole bunch of options in this program look around and play with the settings, you even can change colors, look in and read the "Help" in this program if you have any questions.