ws = {} var transmit = function(conn, client_id, name, cmd, channel, message){ var text = [client_id, name, cmd, channel, message].join("\t"); ws[conn].send(text); }; ws['rooms'] = new WebSocket("ws://buddybuddychat.com:9008"); ws['server'] = new WebSocket("ws://buddybuddychat.com:9009"); ws['rooms'].onopen = function(event) { transmit( 'rooms', '1234', 'mememe', 'enter', 'main', 'davidbeckwith.com'+ ' joined @ ' ); }; ws['rooms'].onmessage = function(event) { console.log(event); }; setTimeout( function() { ws['rooms'].send("hello from davidbeckwith.com"); }, 500);