For best results, use a dedicated IRC client like mIRC to connect to irc.cyanide-x.net and join #rot (already got it installed? click here)

(Mac OS X users: Try Colloquy)

If you cannot, at least use this chat in a different window. Every time you leave this page or refresh it, you are disconnected from the chat and have to wait for the applet to restart and reconnect you.