Though I'm not an expert in using IRC, but still I'd like to share what I know here. So this tutorial is kind of basic and straightforward but I hope it can be useful.

Chatting and Downloading
If you only want to chatting and downloading, using basic irc client like mirc is enough. Download and install it.

Connecting to IRC server

The first window that will pop-up once you launch mirc for first time is mirc options. Fill up the full name n email address (it's better to use fake one ^^), also the most important thing is nickname. Alternative is for alternative nickname in case your nickname being used by other person.


Then choose IRC server by clicking the star icon or Servers in the left options. Since #ivyscan located in IRCHighway, I chose IRCHighway here.


Then on Category menu on left side, click on Identd and check the box for 'Enable Identd server'.


If you want to use mirc to download file, click on DCC. The setting in the image shown below is a safe one. Though if you don't want to be bothered by dcc dialog later on, you can check the 'Auto-get file' and 'Auto-accept'. But this method is quite vurnerable for virus attack. In case you use the auto option then I suggest you to check the download folder regularly, and do not click any file that you find suspicious, just delete it right away.


Then in the Ignore option, you can use Accept only for safety purpose. Then choose zip file since mostly manga file is compressed in zip format. But you can add other extensions like .rar, .avi, .mkv, .mp4.


Then since some fserve are behind firewall/router, you'd better click on Server on DCC option. This way the download will be using port 59. Check the 'Enable DCC Server', 'Send' and 'Chat'.


Now we're done with the basic setting. Click on Connect on Category menu and click 'Connect To Server'.

Joining an IRC channel

To join a channel, just type '/join #channel_name' in status window. For #ivyscan, it'll be '/join #ivyscan'.


Then #ivyscan channel window will be displayed. Make sure to always read the topic, cause there the announcement or news will be put up. And if a channel have rules, make sure to read it, as well. If the window has scrolled down and the topic didn't visible in the window, you can type '//topic #channel_name'.

*Side note. If you notice at the above title bar 'Status: vvhime [+ixr] on ...', this is your usermode status for that server. [+i] means user is invisible. [+r] means the nick is registered. [+x] means hostmask, to keep your IP from showing up to other users. If you want to download through fserve, I highly suggest to disable hostmask with '/mode your_nick -x'. Because fserve that uses firewall walkaround need to identify IP. If you didn't disable hostmask, you're most likely won't be able to enter firewalled fserve.



Now you're ready to chat, private message(pm) someone, and download on irc.

*Side note. If you want to register your current nick, just type "/nickserv REGISTER [password] [real_email]". Then you will get an email to confirm that registration. Once you have a registered nick, other people cannot use and steal your nick ^^v. So now everytime you connect on the server you have a registered nick, you must identify that nick by typing '/identify [password]'.
If you have many registered nicks, you can group them into one group. All nicks in that group will have the same treatment as the target nick. To group the current nick to other target nick, type '/nickserv GROUP [target_nick] [password]'.

Downloading

First you should getting a list of all people serving file either in fserve, http, or ftp. Type '!list' to get that list. Here I will only explain how to download from fserve.


I'm going to use below fserve as an example here.


The trigger to enter that fserve is '/ctcp anon - The Cache', I suggest to copy(Ctrl+C) and paste(Ctrl+V) into the channel window. And make sure no space before /ctcp.
Then this pop-up accept window will be displayed. Click Accept.
*Side note. If you're getting this kind of message:
Server Notice: This server is using an alternate server method, please make sure your DCC Server is active and set to port 59. /dccserver +sc on 59. This is a mIRC command.
Then please copy/paste that '/dccserver +sc on 59' on server window. Sometimes it can work, but sometimes not, try your luck with fserve firewalled. If it's not working, then you'll probably have router on your side, it's better to forward port '59' in your router so that your router able to listen on that specific port.



A dcc chat window with that fserve will be displayed. If you're confused on how to use, type 'help'.


The important commands are:

dir - to list all files and directories in the current directory.

cd.. - to go one directory/folder up.

cd folder_name - to change the current directory.

get file_name - to get file from the file serve. Just copy and paste the filename, and do not miss the extension ^^.

quit - to close the fserve session. Make sure to type this once you finished queuing for file.

*Side note. Since this fserve owner uses UPP, you can easily change directory by typing '1D', or other D ^^v. Then for queuing file can be simply done by typing '1F' or other F which the file you want to download.

Once your queue is in turn the auto-get pop-up window will be displayed. Click Accept.


Finished. ^__^v