Newsgroups

[theghost]

Can somebody give me a quick run down on how to use Newsgroups? Getting tired of using torrent software and would like some advice.

 

Cheers.

[odris]

First of all your need a news reader which is where you will download everything in, I use alt.binz

 

alt.binz | Usenet progy

 

 

That will be used to download the files.

 

Then you need a place to get the files (NZBs), I recommend Merlins Portal for a free option (requires registration).

 

NZB Merlins Portal

 

Or for the one I use it's £7 for I think a 10 year membership or free if you only download NZB's from the last 20 days.

 

NZBMatrix: NZB Index

 

You will also need a server to download off, usually you pay this monthly, the one I use is simply

 

Simply Usenet - The UK's Premium Usenet Provider

 

My max download speed is 20mb so I get the 24mb option for £9 a month, there should be a US option if that doesn't work, such as

 

Usenet Newsgroups Service, News Servers, Usenet Access - Giganews (14 day free trial)

 

 

Last thing you will need is winrar if you don't already have it, you use this to extract the files once downloaded.

 

WinRAR archiver, a powerful tool to process RAR and ZIP files

 

Now, when you have opened up Alt.Binz in the setting option (think it pops up when you first install), create a new server using the address and port given to you by giganews/simply once you have signed up

 

When you have found the file you want, for example on merlins portal you find the file you want and click the "Thanks" button at the bottom right of the posters post, then refresh the thread and a download link will appear.

 

After that open up AltBinz and click the NZB option (has a green arrow pointing down) and it will open up a box to locate the file you saved to the desktop. After opening it click the "Connect" button in the top left and your download should start.

 

Once the download is done click the folder looking button called "download" and open it up in winrar, now extract the file, do this by right clicking the file name and then click "Extract to specified folder". You can save this to the desktop.

 

Hope this helps you mate.

[Rick Sanchez C-137]

Bumpity bump. I just started using newsgroups again after sampling them some time ago. I'm bumping this thread to see if there's anyone else on tlw using them with any tips, recommendations etc.

[llego]

What are they?

[Rick Sanchez C-137]

What are they?

 

Its another way of downloading stuff, but unlike torrents/limewire etc, it's not peer-to-peer. You don't depend on other people for speed. I max out my 36Mbps connection for every file. Which makes grabbing huge 6gb plus files etc a piece of piss. Only problem is they're trickier in general than torrents etc, and you usually have to pay for a decent provider. Ive got an unlimited play for £5 a month, and my files are encrypted so BT souldn't be able to tell what i'm downloading. Here is a quick guide:

 

Noob's guide to usenet

 

I hope its ok to post a link to another forum?

[VladimirIlyich]

Clear as mud!

 

Are they all paid or are any free and do you need to keep letting others download from you like torrents?

[Rick Sanchez C-137]

Clear as mud!

 

Are they all paid or are any free and do you need to keep letting others download from you like torrents?

 

Apologies for the poor explanation, I'm only getting my head around them myself. No you never upload, so you don't need to seed. There are free providers I think, some isps have a free service, but I think paid services are better/faster and have a higher retention level (let you download older files etc).

[VladimirIlyich]

 

Apologies for the poor explanation' date=' I'm only getting my head around them myself. No you never upload, so you don't need to seed. There are free providers I think, some isps have a free service, but I think paid services are better/faster and have a higher retention level (let you download older files etc).[/quote']

 

I was being a bit facetious to be honest so no offence intended.

 

It just seems a lot more complicated than bit torrents to achieve the same end result. Of course the encryption part sounds a great idea but until its streamlined a bit more it will remain a niche market IMO.

[Rick Sanchez C-137]

I was being a bit facetious to be honest so no offence intended.

 

It just seems a lot more complicated than bit torrents to achieve the same end result. Of course the encryption part sounds a great idea but until its streamlined a bit more it will remain a niche market IMO.

 

The niche market is the reason it's safe. For now. Isps have started throttling torrent traffic, and there is a huge amount of pressure on them to limit them, and in some cases, punish the individuals using them to download copyrighted material. I download a 10gb full hd movie the other day in about half an hour. A standard 700mb movie in approximately 2 minutes. Always full speed, never have to seed, never rely on seekers

[VladimirIlyich]

The niche market is the reason it's safe. For now. Isps have started throttling torrent traffic, and there is a huge amount of pressure on them to limit them, and in some cases, punish the individuals using them to download copyrighted material. I download a 10gb full hd movie the other day in about half an hour. A standard 700mb movie in approximately 2 minutes. Always full speed, never have to seed, never rely on seekers

 

Can you recommend any free ones?

[Captain]

Are news groups still alive? Mine more or less died ten years ago!

[Rick Sanchez C-137]

Yea they're still alive and well. As for free news servers I used one years ago and can't remember what it was. But you can buy 'blocks' of download allowance at newsdemon. A 10gb block is 1.24 so you can sample if you like them or not. Other than that I wouldn't know what to recommend other than googling top 10 free news servers or similar.

[stringvest]

I use thundernews news server - I wouldn't use torrents. They've been around as long as the Internet, and they are technically very simple.

[chauncey]

I use thundernews news server - I wouldn't use torrents. They've been around as long as the Internet, and they are technically very simple.

 

Aye, have been using them for about two years. Still torrent on occasion, mind.