IRC has been around since before the World Wide Web (WWW). It is a chat protocol to send instant messages across the Internet. Here is a link to learn about IRC. The software you use for IRC is up to you, there are several. I used mIRC for many years during the 90's as it was the most popular and is supported to this day. If you've never heard of IRC or never tried it, you'll be opened up to a whole new world you never knew existed. Most people these days use "chat" software like MSN, AIM, ICQ, or Yahoo Messenger. This is "chat" to them. You cannot use this software to access IRC networks. These are all derivatives of the original IRC, but they are more peer-to-peer rather than through servers. Some site have chatrooms that use java applets to run IRC.

So, what we can do is setup a channel(s) (chatroom) on an IRC network of which there are many. Using a client-server based chat program allows you to set up permanent channels with much more control than normal chat. But I'm getting ahead, we need to discuss more fundamental things. Let's discuss this.

Has there been an interest in setting up a "Classic Z Car" IRC room? I've used IRC for years, mostly for computer sim racing leagues (anyone else out there into this?) and find it very useful. I'm not so sure that it would be that used in this group too often though, but if a room is setup, I'll add it to my list.

The problem with IRC is that while some of us would use it to ask questions and get info on the cars, the conversations would no longer be recorded in the way that this forum records information/asked questions/answers, etc. Also, when you ask a question, the answer you get will entirely depend on whose logged on at that time, and you may miss an answer by asking at the wrong time. It may be good for some things though, general chit chat when ppl want to shoot the breeze with other fellow z'ers etc. could help to reduce the number of pointless posts ...

Excellent point. For those unfamiliar with IRC, think of it as a LIVE GROUP CHAT and nothing more (not entirely true as you can use it to exchange files, but basically it is for live chat)

IRC is a great thing. I have used it for many purposes. I endorse mIRC also, it works well. A chat would be very neat, but I wonder how many people would use it. You could just set up scheduled times for meeting to chat?

Yeah, I agree that a chat would be fun. I dont know much about them, like terms like IRC and mIRC, but I would like talking to you guys.

I dont know about the scheduled times, because we all come from different time zones. I would use it nonetheless

Dans240Z, I gave links in my post so you could learn what the terms mean. Go read!

I think it would be great fun also.

There are a few chat programs that can be modified to work with our site. They are based as an IRC client using a windows interface. The trouble with this is finding an IRC server to host our channel. I can set up an IRC server, but, it becomes a security issue for me that that point. I only want to allow local IRC client activity through our website. If anyone knows about setting up IRC servers on Linux, please send me a PM. The various packages I've seen for website IRC require a pay-server back-end.

Mike, no need to bother with that when free existing IRC networks exist. We can set up our channel on Dalnet or Efnet or another and we're in business. We control the channel, and those the don't behave go bye bye. There is plenty of control.

  Corganx33 said:

The problem with IRC is that while some of us would use it to ask questions and get info on the cars, the conversations would no longer be recorded in the way that this forum records information/asked questions/answers, etc. Also, when you ask a question, the answer you get will entirely depend on whose logged on at that time, and you may miss an answer by asking at the wrong time. It may be good for some things though, general chit chat when ppl want to shoot the breeze with other fellow z'ers etc. could help to reduce the number of pointless posts ...

Chats can be logged, but that wasn't my intention. My idea is NOT, repeat NOT to replace these forums. It's more social than technical, although it can be technical. We can log the channel for any time we decide to have a formal technical discussion and send the log to Mike. If he wants to post it that's fine. I never intended this to get complex.... but so we could just chat real time and meet each other.

Yes I would like to use it for more social type chat. I think some type of chat room would go over really well. I am normaly on dalnet myself or we could go with another one. Anything is fine with me.

Any one on Dalnet tonight?