I am using Umbrel Lightning node, how do I go about opening channels to actually start using it. And do I have to keep BTC in the on chain side for it to function? Any good reading material suggestions to learn the ins and outs of running a lighting node?
Discussion
If you don't want to open a channel yourself, you can go to amboss and pay like 2000 sats to get a channel opened to you. You won't need on-chain funds to do it this way. If you want to open a "sending" channel first. You will need to send BTC to the on-chain address.
I want to be able to send and receive from it so this will require 2 different channels?
With lightning it's important to have both inbound and outbound liquidity.
You can easily create outbound liquidity to spend by sending on chain funds to your lightning node, connecting to another lightning node, and opening a channel with the amount desired.
For inbound liquidity, others opening channels to you will by default have all value on their side to start. There are various service providers where you can pay (typically upwards of 2-3% with a minimum fee) of the value up front and they'll open a channel to you.
You can also find peers to establish channels with as part of the Rings of Fire (https://t.me/theRingsOfFire) or Plebnet (https://t.me/CHLNgroup) telegram groups. Both of these groups form overlapping rings which will get you well connected without having to open directly to a well known hub