~~NOTOC~~

<box 32% red right | **Chat Now**>
<javachat2>
[[https://www.afternet.org/cgigw/|Help test our new CGI:IRC system!]] \\
You can [[:help:installing:webchat|add chat]] to your own website.
</box>

====== Welcome to AfterNET! ======

<box 32% orange left | **Getting Started**>
To get started, all you need is an IRC client. You can use our web-based [[chat|Java chat]], or download one for your operating system:
  * Windows: [[http://www.mirc.co.uk|mIRC]], [[http://silverex.org/|XChat]]
  * Mac OSX: [[http://xchataqua.sourceforge.net/|XChat]], [[http://colloquy.info/|Colloquy]], [[http://www.kvirc.net/|KVIrc]]
  * Linux: [[http://www.xchat.org/|XChat]], [[http://www.kvirc.net/|KVIrc]], [[http://www.irssi.org/|irssi]]
  * [[WP>Comparison_of_Internet_Relay_Chat_clients|Additional IRC clients]]
Once installed, connect to **[[irc://irc.afternet.org/AfterNET|irc.afternet.org]]**. We have [[help|detailed instructions]] available.
</box>

AfterNET is an Internet Relay Chat network that was founded in September 1996 and is dedicated to providing a free quality chat environment, which gives people all over the world a means to communicate with each other. We take special care to ensure that our network provides a place where the [[policies:freedom|freedom of speech]] of all our users is respected.

[[http://www.cafepress.com/afternet/|{{ teddybear.jpg}}]]

We pride ourselves on maintaining high-speed [[servers|IRC servers]] around the globe, with a strong emphasis on network and service stability. The network has an average of [[stats|800 people]] connected to it at once, and we are fortunate to have a very loyal group of users. Our main channel is [[channels:afternet|#AfterNET]] and our help channel is #Help.

We provide username and channel registrations via our [[help:irc:x3|AuthServ]] and [[help:irc:x3|X3]] service bots. Many organizations that host websites dedicated to music, sports, software development, gaming, or other special interests choose AfterNET as their chat network because of our "free" nature and our supportive and friendly staff. We hope you enjoy your time on our network, and please [[:contact|let us know]] if there is anything we can do for you!

<box 32% green right | **Network Status**>
In the event that our main website is unavailable or the network is experiencing technical problems, status updates are now available on a separate server: **http://status.afternet.org/**.
</box>


====== New Features and Updates ======

  * [[https://www.afternet.org/home?do=register|Register an AuthServ/Website Account]]: You can now register for an account online! 
  * [[junkies:gallery|Junkies Gallery]]: The junkies photo gallery has returned, and is better than ever!
  * [[:help:irc:status|Online Status Graphics]]: Display your AfterNET status on your website or user page.
  * [[users|User Pages]] and [[:channels:home|Channel Pages]]: Registered users can now create their own pages.
  * [[:help:installing:webchat|Embed our java webchat application]] into your own website!
  * [[https://www.afternet.org/cgigw/|Test our new no-java webchat interface]] based on CGI:IRC

====== Link a Server ======

If you're interested in linking a server to AfterNET, please visit our [[policies:linkapp|link application]]. Feel free to stop by #afternet or #help and discuss your plans with us. In particular, if you're going to purchase a dedicated server for IRC, we'd be happy to suggest providers we've used in the past.

====== Live Comic Strip ======

<comic>

====== Important Notes ======

  * Please be sure to read our [[policies:aup|Acceptable Use]] and [[policies:privacy|Privacy]] Policies.