To start off, you need to visit mIRC's website in order to download the program. Once you have downloaded the installer (about 1.2Mb in size), install it to a location of your choice and then launch the program.

Connecting for the first time

Once you enter the program, click on File >Options (or press Alt+O) to open the options window.

Diagram 1:

As shown in diagram 1, you start by entering your name and email address. The name will be visible to all, so if you don't wish to reveal your real name, then use an assumed name, or perhaps just your forename. The email address should be genuine, although it will also be visible to people, so you may wish to use a backup one.

This is also where you choose the nickname that you will appear under in the channel, as well as an alternate in the event that this is taken. This can be changed later, so do not worry if your choices are already taken when you connect.

In the options menu on the left, click the next to the word Connect, and then click the word Servers from the sub-tree that appears.

Diagram 2:

In the IRC Network dropdown menu, select Blitzed, as shown in Diagram 2. The IRC Server dropdown will appear as shown, with Blitzed: Random Server.

Click on the Connect To Server button, and the options window will close followed by you connecting to the network for the first time.

Registering your nickname

Since #power-rangers is only accessible by registered nicks, registering must be the next step.

If your first chosen nick is taken, you will be changed to your alternate nick. If this is also taken, you must keep trying until you find one that is free. To change your nick, type /nick <nick>, where <nick> is of course what you want to be known as.

Once you strike gold, type /nickserv register <password> <email>, not including the <brackets> of course. Your password will not be viewable to others, but by default your email will, so as before, it is best not to use your main address. But it must be genuine, as you will then need to check this email account, as you will be receiving a mail from Blitzed with your registration code.

Once you receive the email, copy the indicated line from it into mIRC, and press enter. The nick registration will then be complete. To identify to this nick in future (which must be done before entering the channel) you can type /identify <password>.

Before this though, there are a few more options to set.

Automating connection

Diagram 3:

Go back into the options window, and move down to the next category under Connect, which is Options again. Arrange the tickboxes as shown in Diagram 3:, then click the Perform... button. In this window you can specify commands that will automatically be issues when you open mIRC and connect to Blitzed, so that you can join the channel without having to lift a finger.

In the new window which opens, tick the box forEnable perform on connect, then click on the Add button. In the new list that appear, select Blitzed, then click OK.

Back in the perform window, in the Network dropdown, select Blitzed, which should now be in the list. Type the lines shown in Diagram 3, with the appropriate substitutions for <password> and <nick>.

A quick run-through:

/nickserv ghost <nick> <password> - This will remove anyone who is currently using your nick on the network. Unfortunate for them, but it's your nick after all. Another purpose for this is for if you lose your connection to Blitzed, and your nick stays in use even after you try to reconnect; this will remove that instance of the nick.
/nick <nick> - In the instance that your nick needs ghosting, this will change you to your nick before you enter the channel.
/identify <password> - This is to identify you to your registered nick, proving to the network that you are the owner and letting you access the channel.
/join #power-rangers - This is the command to join the channel.

Click OK.

We're nearly done, one more step!

Configuring mIRC to download files

From the category tree in options, select DCC.

Diagram 4:

Adjust your settings in this window to match those of Diagram 4. This means that files you queue on an fserve in the channel will download when they are ready without you having to manually confirm each time.

Click the next to DCC and select Folders from the sub-tree. There will be two items in the list that appears. Select default, and press the edit button. In the next window that appears, click on the button with the existing filepath, and you can specify a download folder to receive files into. If you wish to change this, repeat for the second item in the list.

Diagram 5:

When you are done with that, select Ignore from the DCC sub-tree. Select Disabled from the Method dropdown, and untick Turn ignore back on in x mins, as specified in Diagram 5.

Click OK.

This is all you need to know to connect to Blitzed and get started in the channel. There are other options you'll want to play with at some point, but this is all you need for now. Select File >Disconnect, and then File > Connect (or use the shortcut icon at the top, with the lightning bolt designs), and if you've set everything up correctly, you will automatically be taken into the channel for the first time.

Be sure to say hello, we're a chat channel as well as a filesharing community!