Other Ways to Use the Internet
Internet Relay Chat (IRC)
- What Is IRC?
- Can I use IRC with NTD Athenet?
- What do I need to get on IRC?
- Once I have my software, how do I get in on the chat?
- What are these Servers?
- Which servers are best to connect to?
- Does NTD Athenet have a local IRC server?
- After connecting to the IRC server I get a bunch of garbage, what's that about?
- After connecting what do I do?
Usenet Newsgroups
- What is Usenet news?
- How do I go about reading and posting to these 'newsgroups'?
- Who reads these newsgroups?
- So is Usenet complete anarchy where I can express any opinion I have in any manner that I see fit?
- How do I start posting messages to Usenet?
- Where are some other sources for information about Usenet?
Telnet
Internet Relay Chat (IRC)
What Is IRC?
IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat. It's a way for internet users to "chat" or talk to each other in real time by typing in what is to be spoken.
Can I use IRC with NTD Athenet?
Yes most any internet programs can be run with your PPP connection with NTD Athenet.
What do I need to get on IRC?
You will need one of the many "clients" or Chat Programs that are available right on the Internet to download.
Once I have my software, how do I get in on the chat?
You must first connect to us. Then run your IRC program. You will need some or all of the following information to sign on.
- Your Real Name
- Your email address
- A nickname
- An alternative Nickname
What are these Servers?
IRC relies on servers to relay all the chat that occurs. Your IRC client communicates with the server throughout your connection with them.
Which servers are best to connect to?
The Usual rule is to pick a server that is geographically closest to your computer. After using IRC for awhile you will learn which servers perform better for you.
Does NTD Athenet have a local IRC server?
NTD Athenet does not have our own IRC server at this time, although you should be able to connect to most other IRC servers.
After connecting to the IRC server I get a bunch of garbage, what's that about?
Every server has a Message of the Day for its users. It happens every time you connect.
After connecting what do I do?
You can join any of the thousands of channels available. Some common channels on all IRC servers are #newbies, #chat, and #funfactory.
Usenet Newsgroups
What is Usenet news?
"News" is a hierarchical collection of discussion groups. Most of these groups are propagated around the world. Certain groups (such as athenet...) are local to the NTD Athenet news server. The top level of some of the hierarchies:
- alt
- "alternative" groups (generally the "noisiest")
- athenet
- items pertaining to NTD Athenet
- bionet
- biology
- biz
- business/commercial
- comp
- computer
- gnu
- the gnu foundation (creators of great free software)
- ieee
- engineering
- info
- information
- misc
- miscellaneous
- news
- Usenet News related
- rec
- recreational
- sci
- science
- soc
- society
- talk
- conversational
- wi
- items pertaining to Wisconsin
How do I go about reading and posting to these 'newsgroups'? You need,
- a connection to the Internet If you are reading this, you probably already have a connection to the Internet so you needn't worry about that factor.
- access to a news server If you are connected to the Intenet through NTD Athenet you are also given access to our news server (news.athenet.net).
- a program capable of reading news (i.e. Outlook Express, Agent, Netscape News) You most likely already have Outlook Express. If not, you can download Free Agent from the internet.
Who reads these newsgroups?
Anyone who meets the preceding requirements and has an interest in the newsgroups. This means that any message that you post has the possibility of being read by millions of people. That's quite an outlet for expressing your opinion.
So is Usenet complete anarchy where I can express any opinion I have in any manner that I see fit?
Only in the same way that you choose to express yourself in other public situations. If you make remarks that are highly offensive to others in the internet community you can be sure that you are going to hear about it. Remember, you are in a forum of possibly millions so don't make statements that you aren't prepared to defend.
How do I start posting messages to Usenet?
If you are new to Usenet, the best idea is to read posts for a while and familiarize yourself with the procedures of the different groups. Some major Usenet faux paux's: posting messages in ALL CAPITALS (the equivalent of yelling), posting messages that are unrelated to the group which you've posted to, not reading the FAQ for that particular group if there is one. In short, watch Usenet groups, learn the rules and have fun.
Usenet is a great source of information and a good place to meet others in the internet community that share common interests so take advantage of it; there's more to the internet than the WWW and email so get out there and explore.
Where are some other sources for information about Usenet?
Usenet: The worldwide BBS system and Google Groups are both good resources.
Telnet
Is there a way I can log into NTD Athenet's server directly?
Yes, by using a terminal emulation program. This allows your computer to communicate with our server. These types of programs are commonly referred to as telnet programs. NTD Athenet's telnet server is "shell.athenet.net".
Where can I get a Telnet Program?
If you have Windows 95 or higher there is a basic Telnet Program built into Windows. If you are not using Windows, there are telnet programs available right on the Internet to download.
Why would I want to log into your server?
There are many reasons - try telneting to our server (shell.athenet.net) and find out what is available. The most useful tool there is a way to forward your email to another address or setup a vacation message for your email if you'll be away for awhile.
Can I get a UNIX prompt instead of the menu on the NTD Athenet server?
If you have extensive UNIX experience and wish to have a prompt please email support giving a reason for requesting and upon approval you can be granted a prompt.