***BE SURE TO HIT RELOAD ON YOUR BROWSER  IF "Join Channel" ISNT #jonesfamilyonline.net"***

For your Chat nickname, use your first and last name without a space (i.e. TomFoolery).  The reason is, this chat is hosted on a third party server and common names may be already registered, (i.e. Tom).  If you click "connect" you get a message that the username you selected is registered, click "refresh" or "reload" on your Browser and try your name again with a "JO" after it, (i.e. TomFooleryJO).  It is unlikely that this name will be taken.   This chat area is linked only from our site and is a closed chat so only visitors to this site should be able to access it.  We will post "Chat Times" on the News Page so  people can join for a session since often when you randomly check the chat room it will likely be empty.   To use the chat you need a Java-enabled browser (Internet Explorer version 4 and up and Netscape version 4 and up).  If you are having trouble, try closing the entire page and reopen it.  If you're still having trouble, email Randy and we will figure it out.   To talk on the chat, there is a small text box right next to a bunch of colored boxes, make sure you click in there so you get a little cursor to flash, then you can type, click enter on your keyboard, and your text will appear.  See a picture here of what the screen looks like.  Also, the colored boxes by where you type (On the chat screen), double click the color you want your text to be.  You can have a private chat if you both dbl click each others names under the "users" area.  A new window will open and you can type in there just to each other.

This is in a testing phase right now to see how well it works and if you like it.  Have fun!

Thanks to: