Something

        # get console input and build a string until <RETURN> pressed, then put the string to IRC
        if read -n 1 -t 1 ONECHAR <&6; then
                if [ -z "$ONECHAR" ]; then
                        echo "---DEBUG: triggered to send console input" >&7
                        echo -en "PRIVMSG ${BOTCHAN} :${CONSINPUT}\r\n"
                        CONSINPUT=""
                else
                        CONSINPUT="${CONSINPUT}${ONECHAR}"
                fi
        fi