Hi, I'm sort of new at this IRC stuff. I get the following messages when I try to enter certain channels: "unable to join channel (need correct key)" & "unable to join channel (invite only)" What is a "key" and where does a person aquire one? And when you receive a key what do you do with it? Also how does a person aquire an "invite" to a channel?

Thanks in advance

Keys are related to the +k channel mode. If someone is an op they can set a key (a password) on a channel with /mode #channel +k keyHERE. You cannot acquire the key without asking an op what it is. Chances are though it's a private channel and you're not meant to be in there.

Invite only (channel mode +i) means you must be invited - only a channel op can invite you, using the /invite command.

Regards,