Undernet

Undernet is another IRC network, much like EFnet and DALnet. It was created as an alternative to EFnet, but has since fallen to some of the same problems (politics, IRCops that don't give a darn, unstable network, etc). To give it a try, point your IRC client at us.undernet.org or eu.undernet.org port 6667.

I haven't met an Undernet IRCop yet, but I really prefer Undernet over EFnet. Mainly because there are fewer people, so you get to know the regulars quickly. Of course, having a smaller population is also a bad thing if you're into some obscure topic or looking for a local scene. But places like #Computers, #Programming, and #C have enough people to entertain you.

Don't get me wrong though, Undernet isn't perfect, places like #C++ are places to stay away from. Overall though it's a good community.

us.undernet.org, eu.undernet.org and irc.undernet.org are often down/broken, so the current list of Undernet servers and ports:

Amsterdam.NL.Eu.UnderNet.org 6667
Brussels.Be.Eu.Undernet.org 6667
Caen.FR.EU.Undernet.org 6666-6668 7000-7001
diemen.nl.eu.undernet.org 6660-6669, 7000
Flanders.Be.Eu.Undernet.org 6660-6669
Geneva.CH.EU.undernet.org 6660-6669,7777 and 8000
graz.at.eu.undernet.org 6660-7000
graz2.at.eu.undernet.org 6660-7000
haarlem.nl.eu.undernet.org 6666-6669
London.uk.eu.undernet.org 6666,6667, 7000, 8000, 9000
Oslo.NO.EU.Undernet.org 6660-6669,7000
paris.fr.eu.undernet.org 6662-6668
stockholm.se.eu.undernet.org 6666-7000
Surrey.UK.EU.Undernet.Org 6667
Arlington.VA.US.Undernet.Org 6660, 6665-6667, 7000
austin.tx.us.undernet.org 6665-6669, 7000, 7777
McLean.VA.US.Undernet.Org 6667,6668
mesa.az.us.undernet.org 6660, 6665-6667, 7000
Montreal.QU.CA.Undernet.org 6660-6669
newyork.ny.us.undernet.org 6660-6669,7000
Toronto.ON.CA.Undernet.org 6667
washington.dc.us.undernet.org 6667