Why use kChat?
So why use it if there’s MSN, AIM, IRC etc? Some offices/schools don’t let you install MSN/AIM/ICQ onto their computers. And some downright block those protocols. With kChat, you can bypass this by using a different port address. It’s small enough to attach to your email too. It offers simple encryption just incase your company monitors the traffic through the network. kChat scrambles the text so it’s unreadable by snoopers.

I wrote kChat for fun but I was also looking for a very simple easy to use chat program with basic features.

Download kChat 0.71 Unzip and run the EXE. If it complains about missing files (DLLs, OCXs) install the VB6 Run-times from Microsoft.

** Use this program at your risk, kChat has been tested on Windows 2000/XP. It even works in Linux under WINE.

Hosting a Chat session:

1. You must enter a nickname that identifies you in the chatroom.

2. Type in a port number, the default 9898 should work for most people.

3. Click the "Host" option, then "Host" button to start the chatroom. People in your local network can connect to the chatroom by entering your IP.

**Note if you're planning to host a chat over the Internet and you're behind a firewall, you need to know your public IP (which is different from your local IP) local IPs usually start with 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x. Go to www.whatismyip.com to look up your public IP. If you're behind a firewall (router, firewall software) you must configure the firewall to allow traffic through that port. People won't be able to connect to you, if you don't do this.

Joining a Chat session:

1. Enter a nickname

2. Click the "Join" option.

3. Enter the IP and port of the computer that is hosting the chat.

4. Click the "Join" button.

5. If all is well, you should get a welcome message.

6. Start chatting!

**Note: If you can't connect, make sure you entered in the right IP and port number. Also make sure the person hosting the chat has setup their firewall correctly. If they are behind one, they have to consult their manual on how to open ports and such. This is beyond the scope of this Website.

The options in kChat are pretty self-explanatory. However, here are some expanations for options I think that might be unclear.

Changing Your Nickname

You can change your nickname by using the File menu and choosing "Change nickname"

Log

There are options to clear and view the log files. Log files are saved onto c:\. They are kchat-client.log and kchat-host.log.

Encryption Levels

Think of them as "channels". Everyone must be using the SAME level/channel or else you can't read each other's messages. kChat, by default, encrypts all data before it is sent. The clients' then decrypt the messages when they receive them. They will appear garbled. Default is "1" which is good enough for prying eyes . The higher the level the more CPU will be required to encrypt and decrypt the messages. However, with today's computers, it is hardly noticeable. "0" will send messages unencrypted.

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PYVM (Play Video Maker) started off as just a simple program to calculate the proper dimensions for FFMPEG so it doesn’t look squished or stretch. It now has the ability to convert with FFMPEG. Development is slow since I have a life. However it is very usable right now.

0.61

Download 0.61

The first thing you need to do is get all the codecs installed on your computer. Go to free-codecs.com to get them. My favourite and lazy thing to do is download the K-Lite Code pack that includes every codec under the sun to help you convert and view videos.

Download the latest version of PYVM (Play Yan Video Maker).

Next you need to find out the dimensions of the video you're going to convert. PYVM isn't smart enough yet to figure out the dimensions of the video for you so you have to plug that in.. You can use GSpot or use some video player that gives you this information.

GSpot will show you the resolution of the video.

So will Media Player. Take your pick.

Fire up PYVM and locate FFMPEG.EXE. (it's included with PYVM)

I had mine in the root of c:

Click the browse button

Look for the video you want to convert.

Click the browse button again

Tell PYVM where you want to save the resulting MP4 file.

Remember when you found out about the resolution? Plug that data in here.

Choose a resolution for the GBA. The default 240×160 works fine since that is the Gameboy Advance's native resolution.

Click the "Convert" button and it should pop up a DOS window that begins to convert the video into MP4 format. If nothing happens, either the video is incompatible or something wrong.

How to install PYVM

1. Download latest version of PYVM.
2. Download FFMPEG
3. Unzip both of them into the SAME directory. (e.g. c:\pyvm)
4. Run pyvm.exe

If PYVM complains about missing DLLs, OCXs, download the VB6 runtimes from Microsoft.

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