Connecting to IRC now I'm behind a router

Ok so, yay, I have broadband. And still trying to get stuff like p2p apps to work, and video confrencing, but one thing I really want is IRC ? do I need to open a port on my router ? which and how ? :smiley:

I’m using US Robotics 9003. (awfull question for someone that spent a year on a cisco networking course! :sigh: )