IRC with WEBTV

Many of our questions in #starchat come from Webtv users, so it is a good idea to have some idea of the capabilities of the system. This class will hopefully give you some clues on what our webtv users can and cannot do in thier program.

Usually they are easy to spot when they come in to #starchat, they will (if using starchat irc) have a second line when they come in saying " nick is using the new StarChat WebTV IRC ".

Sometimes webtv users do not have the starchat irc, but one clue will be that thier nick and ident (& often their 'real name' will be the same. You can check with a /ctcp version on them if you are unsure. If they are not using our irc, suggest you email it to them, so they can return to #starchat on it.

Email this url to the webtv user: http://starchat.net/wtv/wtv.php?chan=starchat

It is always handy to have the webtv tutorial up, so have the url ( http://www.starchat.net/wtv/tutorial.htm ) book-marked when you are in #starchat, so you can see what they have on their screen.

Registration:

Webtv users don't need to register to get the channel list, although they still need to register to get chanops, register a channel, send/receive memo's etc.

They can use the 'List all rooms' button without registering.

Note: do not direct them to the ‘Top 75 Rooms’ ~ as that button isn’t working.

What they can't do:

Webtv users are not able to open more than one channel at a time, once they join another channel, they will leave the current one. (Also, they will get /msg's in the main window, with a 'whisper from nick' comment in front of it)

Webtv users cannot use the shortcut commands, like /cs, /ns, /ms, they have to use the full /msg chanserv, /msg nickserv, /msg memoserv.

MOST Webtv users aren’t able to use cut & paste to copy commands or Url's, so if you need to give Url's, please email them to the user. ( for webtv users, it is easy, thiernick@webtv.net ) This is handy for giving the #starchat address as they can use the email to rejoin #starchat with the starchat irc.

Finding a channel:

Using /list in webtv is NOT a good move, it can flood them off the server, or at best, fill their screen and wipe out the discussion in the channel. Suggest the list all Rooms button. If all else fails,(and they are registered) it is possible for them to use /list with parameters to reduce the size of the list, as long as they do it right. eg /list 20, or /list *name*. (note that using *name* will show all channels with 'name' anywhere in the channel name or topic, so it can still be pretty long)

A note on room lists:

If a webtv users complains they can't get a room list there are a couple of possibilities. Try suggesting they POWER OFF and wait 5-10 minutes before signing back on.

The 'list generator' may be down on the web site. Java and webtv channel lists are generated from the list on the starchat web site at www.starchat.net/channels.php. Sometimes the 'bot' that updates the list may be down and the list will 'freeze' and not show changes. If a lot of java/web users are complaining about their channel list, it may be worth checking the web site list to see if it is the problem. You can check the javachat url yourself to see if there are problems.

Auto Joining:

Webtv can be set up to auto join a channel on connect. Webtv users can save a copy of the starchat url with the appropriate roomname after the = sign http://www.starchat.net/wtv/wtv.php?chan=roomname
(If necessary, send them an email with the appropriate link in it.)
Remember that webtv users do NOT use the # before the channel name.

Changing Channels.

Webtv users *can* use the normal /join #channel command (without the #, ie /join channel), but as jinxi spent so much time coding the buttons to make it easier for them, suggest they put the room name in the box at the top right of thier window and click the 'join' button next to it.

Nick Settings:

Webtv does have some restrictions on this. First, if a webtv user wants to change their nick, they have to use a currently registered and id'd nick before they start. The command is different to the 'normal' one, it is: ./msg webserv nick newnick

Warn them that they will still see their old nick on screen, but everyone else will see the new one. The other alternative is to leave starchat and reconnect with the new nick. To register, identify, activate a webtv nick, they should use the nickserv buttons. It will give them a popup menu with the respective options in it to make their life easier.

(Note: setting webtv nicks to guard/kill is messy, as they often don't get the id in before they are nick changed and we will get them in #starchat asking 'why cant I id to my nick?'. If this happens, they will have a 'tail', (a '1' added to the nick).

Chanops:

Webtv users can use the usual commands for chanserv etc, as long as they use '/msg chanserv command' and not '/cs command', but try to have them use the 'chanserv' buttons, rather than typing out commands. That is why the buttons were put there and it is not as easy to make typo's.

Note:*

Update for Webtv: Do a Version on the webtv user when they are on the starchat irc. If the user is running a webtv version of 2.9 or lower, there is an update available. They need to switch off the unit and wait a few minutes to let it 'reset'.
With the unit still OFF, press 'options' three times, then enter 8675309.
(Note that this will not work on versions 2.9.1 and above.)