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Configure a Usenet Server for Fills

March 19, 2013 by

We’ve all been there.  You just finished downloading a large group of files only to realize you’re missing too many parts for PARs to save the day.  Now what?  For a lot of people it’s back to square one.  Luckily you still have some other options.  Our favorite solution is using a fill server to grab missing or damaged files.  We recommend using a fast Usenet provider for primary downloads and a block plan for fills.  More and more Usenet fans are turning to inexpensive blocks from European providers to act as fill servers.

You can visit our main site – Newsgroup Reviews – for recommendations on which Usenet providers are the best.  Our post is going to assume you already have a primary and secondary (fill) server.  They can technically be from two different services or separate server farms from the same company.  We’ll cover that in more detail in a moment.  For now you’ll want to choose a Usenet client that supports fill servers.  Here’s a few options:

The naming may differ between newsreaders.  Some may use terms other than fill servers.  You might also see the feature listed as something like server priority.  Regardless you’re looking for an option that will pick up if you can’t complete the download otherwise.  We’ll walk you through setting up a fill server in Newsbin.

Usenet fill server

When it comes to fills Newsbin is definitely our favorite newsreader.  You can easily set the client to use any Usenet account as a fill server.  All you have to do is click on Options – Servers.  From there choose the server you want to use as a fill and click the “Fill Server” checkbox in the advanced options section.

That’s all there is to setting up a fill server in Newsbin.  If your Usenet provider has more than one server farm you can set one up as the primary and the other for fills.  We personally prefer using two separate accounts.  I think you’ll have more success that way as well.  Enjoying more complete Usenet downloads.

Filed Under: Newsreaders, Usenet Tutorials Tagged With:

Political Newsgroups : Usenet American Politics

October 16, 2012 by

With the second presidential debate coming up this evening and the election in a few weeks the subject of politics is close at hand.  Whether you’ve chosen a candidate or are undecided this is an important time.  As the opportunity to vote for the next U. S. President is just around the corner.  You have a lot of good resources for information including Usenet.  Fans of text newsgroups know that posts often spark lively discussion.

In a moment we’ll list a series of text newsgroups that focus on political topics.  Many of which are currently focused on the 2012 presidential election.  Without trying to convince you of which candidate to choose we would just like to encourage our American visitors to get out and vote on November 6th.

There are quite a few newsgroups dedicated to politics in the U. S. and around the world.  You can find a long list starting with alt.politics.  We use Newsbin Pro to browse text groups and find the client to be very good at the task.  Those without a Usenet membership can also use Google Groups to access them.

Here’s a sampling of some popular political newsgroups:

  • alt.politics
  • alt.politics.conservative
  • alt.politics.democrat
  • alt.politics.democrats
  • alt.politics.elections
  • alt.politics.economics
  • alt.politics.liberalism
  • alt.politics.obama
  • alt.politics.republican
  • alt.politics.usa
  • alt.politics.usa.constitution

It’s easy to find newsgroups related to politics.  Here’s a search we did in Newsbin Pro:

As you can see we typed alt.politics in the search box and Newsbin returned 275 groups.  You can also search for topics based on keywords like democrat, republican, president, senate, congress, etc.

Visit Newsgroup Reviews to learn more about Usenet.  Follow us @NewsgroupRevs for the latest news.

Filed Under: Usenet Tutorials Tagged With: ,

Favorite Text Newsgroups and Posts

September 25, 2012 by

Do you enjoy sharing your thoughts and ideas with others?  Do you frequent certain text newsgroups or have some all time favorite posts?  If so we’d like to hear about them.  In the coming weeks we’ll be sharing some of your favorites along with a series of popular and often famous posts.  Including some historical posts that you’ll definitely want to check out.  So please email your favorites to us at feedback (at) newsgroupreviews.com.

What kind of text newsgroups or posts are we looking for?  The most interesting will be shared in a series of blog posts.  Perhaps you follow your favorite college or pro sports teams newsgroup.  Maybe you have a hobby that goes along with one or more text groups that you frequent.  Whatever the circumstance we want to learn more about your favorite groups and posts.  Please send your ideas to feedback (at) newsgroupreviews.com

Visit Newsgroup Reviews to learn more about Usenet and follow us @NewsgroupRevs for the latest news.

Filed Under: Usenet History Tagged With: ,

Which Usenet Provider is the Fastest?

September 12, 2012 by

Which Usenet provider is the fastest?  That’s a question we hear often from those comparing newsgroup services.  The answer isn’t cut and dry though as your location, ISP and other factors contribute to which Usenet provider has the fastest download speeds.  That doesn’t mean that all their networks are created equal.  You can expect to see the best speeds out of the large tier-1 providers.  For us Newshosting performs really well.

Just because Newshosting performs great for us doesn’t mean it will automatically be the fastest Usenet service for you as well.  So how do you determine the best performance?  Fortunately several leading providers offer free trials to test their servers before becoming a member.  Here are some of our favorites:

  • Newshosting – 21 day free trial
  • UseNetServer –  14 day free trial
  • Easynews –  14 day free trial
  • NewsDemon – 7 day free trial
  • NewsgroupDirect – 7 day free trial

Visit our free Usenet trials page to learn more about all the free trials available.

Some of you might find that the free trials just aren’t quite enough as most limit the usage to around 10 GB for testing the service.  If you want more time then we suggest you check out our Usenet specials section where you’ll find a number of leading Usenet providers offering unlimited access for under $10 a month.

Here are a few tips for ensuring the best performance when downloading from newsgroups:

  • Use the minimum number of connections needed to reach your desired download speed.
  • Connect to the closest server farm (typically U. S and Europe)
  • Try alternate ports if you think your ISP might be throttling
  • Remember that using SSL will slow your connection a bit

Visit Newsgroup Reviews to learn more about Usenet and follow us @NewsgroupRevs for the latest deals.

Filed Under: Usenet Providers, Usenet Tutorials Tagged With:

Resolving Usenet 502 Error Codes

July 18, 2012 by

When it comes to Usenet error codes, the 502 error is quite common.  Depending on the newsgroup provider you might also see some additional information like “authentication failed” or “too many connections”.  There are several problems that can lead to 502 errors.  Luckily most of them are easily explained and can be solved by the user.  We’ll cover several solutions in a moment.  Refer to our Usenet tutorial section for more guides.

Usenet 502 Error Codes

Here’s a list of common 502 Usenet errors along with suggestions for solving them:

1.  Authentication Failed

  • As the message suggests you’re failing to log into the Usenet provider’s news server.
  • Is this the first time you’ve tried to connect?  If so make sure you’ve entered the username and password properly.  Most Usenet providers send them in an email after you sign up.
  • Remember that your username and password may be case sensitive.
  • Did you copy and paste your username and password from the welcome email?  If so try typing them in to the newsreader manually.
  • Log into your Usenet provider’s website to test your credentials.
  • Did you change your password recently?  If so wait a few minutes and try again.
  • Confirm your payments are up to date.  Confirm your credit card expiration date.
  • If you find newsreader setup frustrating then consider Newshosting.  They will provide you with a pre-configured newsreader along with unlimited Usenet for just $9.99 a month or $99 a year.

2.  Incorrect News Server Address or Port Number

  • Confirm your providers news server address.  Here’s a sever / port list to help.
  • Many providers have multiple news servers in the US and Europe.  They also have alternate port numbers based on whether you want to connect using SSL encryption.
  • Configure your newsreader for the news server farm closest to your location.
  • Take a look at this sample Usenet server setup using NewsLeecher.

  • Be careful not to switch the server address and nickname.
  • If you check the SSL box make sure to use an appropriate port number.
  • We left the username and password blank for the screenshot.  Make sure to enter your credentials.

3.  Exceeded Max Connections

  • Confirm the maximum number of server connections allowed on your account.
  • Make sure you haven’t set the number of connection in your newsreader too high.
  • Usenet clients use different terms.  For example NewsLeecher calls connections bots.
  • Set your max connections even if the newsreader will try to automatically.
  • If you disconnected or cancelled in the middle of a download then give the connections some time to clear.
  • Remember that the connection limit is spread across all servers.  So if you’re using 20 connections between US and Europe servers for the same provider then split them up allocating 10 to each server.
  • Tip: only use the minimum number of connections needed to reach your desired download speed.

4.  Login From Multiple IP’s Not Allowed

  • Most Usenet providers do not allow you to share accounts.  They often track by IP address.
  • Perhaps your IP changed recently.  If so wait a few minutes for the connections to reset and try again.
  • Did you share your credentials?  If so change your password and wait awhile before logging back in.

5.  Usage Limit Reached

  • This isn’t applicable for unlimited Usenet accounts.
  • Metered plans are limited to a certain amount of download usage each month.  If you exceed the limit often then we suggest you consider an unlimited Usenet plan.
  • The same applies to block accounts.  Once the block is used up you’ll want to purchase another block.

I hope our guide helped resolve your 502 error.  Remember that your Usenet provider is there to help as well.

Visit Newsgroup Reviews to learn more about Usenet.  Follow us @NewsgroupRevs for the best Usenet deals.

Filed Under: Usenet Tutorials Tagged With: , ,

Usenet Security and Safety Tips

March 21, 2012 by

The topic of computer viruses, malware, spyware and the like are fairly common now a days.  Most of us are careful not to open email attachments or follow links from unknown senders.  Yet some forget that the same dangers lurk in newsgroups and elsewhere.  Just like email you should take certain precautions when downloading from Usenet.  We’d like to share some tips to help ensure a safe, secure Usenet experience.

Let’s discuss some ideas that will help secure your safety while fully enjoying Usenet:

Use Protection – Antivirus / Malware / Spyware

You might think this tip would go without saying.  Yet there are a lot of people who either let their virus protection expire or don’t regularly update the virus definitions.  At very least download one of the popular free antivirus programs like Avast or AVG and keep it up to date.  Then we recommend you leave it active to scan your Usenet downloads.  Otherwise make sure to scan the Usenet content before proceeding to open it.  This is true of anything you get from the Internet, email, files from friends, etc.  A virus scan only takes a few seconds and can potentially save your system.

Secure your Downloads – SSL Encryption / VPN Service

When we talk about using SSL encryption for Usenet downloads and VPN services for Internet browsing and other apps the focus is on security and privacy.  We strongly encourage the use of SSL for Usenet.  The necessity can be debated but at very least it will help some avoid ISP’s bandwidth throttling.  Not to mention that most leading Usenet providers offer free SSL.  Those who want to protect themselves beyond Usenet should consider a personal VPN service.  While VPN is outside the scope of this article, a good provider can help protect your privacy beyond Usenet.

Pay Close Attention to File Size and File Types

Sometimes dangerous Usenet content is easy to spot.  For example let’s say that my goal is to download the latest version of Ubuntu.  Going in I know the total size of the files should be around 700 MB.  Taking compression into account it still won’t make sense for an archive to be 4 MB with an executable in it.  In this case there are two signs of deceit.  Both the download size and file type.  That was a simple example but the same is true for any type of content.  Just pay close attention to details and avoid those posts that don’t look right.  There’s plenty more to choose from.

Try to Avoid Password Protected RAR Archives

This is a personal pet peeve of ours.  Those who post content to Usenet and then require a password that isn’t easily available.  The poster will often times direct you to a URL which could lead to a virus, phishing scam, etc.  In this case you might consider using Nzbmatrix to search for your Usenet content.  As they do a good job and have an active community for comments.  Also Mysterbin search engine has a nice advanced ‘No password’ feature that we’ve found helpful.

Have any other suggestions for helping secure a safe Usenet experience?  If so please let us know by sending an email to feedback (at) newsgroupreviews.com.  We’ll happily update this post with more recommendations.  Visit Newsgroup Reviews to learn more about Usenet.  Follow us @NewsgroupRevs for the latest news.

Filed Under: Usenet Tutorials Tagged With: , , ,

Usenet Quick Start Guide

February 23, 2012 by

The primary goal of NGR is to provide comprehensive Usenet coverage.  Including all of the active Usenet providers, newsreader clients and search sites.  Yet we understand that some of you don’t want to take the time to read several reviews and consider all the options.  You’d rather be up and running on Usenet asap.  If you fall into that category then this Usenet quick start guide is written for you.  We’ll focus on Newshosting since they offer an excellent Usenet client and unlimited Usenet to our readers for just $9.99 a month or $99 a year.

First we’d like to give you some background on the Newshosting service and their popular newsreader client.  Newshosting is a leading Usenet provider and offers everything you would expect and then some.  From high retention and completion to 256-bit SSL, news servers in the U.S and Europe, free newsreader with built-in Usenet search, uncapped speeds and unlimited Usenet access.  Their Usenet client supports Windows, Mac and Linux.  The software takes care of everything.  Search for content, preview, download, repair and extract.

Step 1 – Sign Up for Newshosting’s Unlimited Usenet Plan

Joining Newshosting is simple.  New members save up to 44% off their unlimited plan.  With unlimited Usenet downloads for just $9.99/mo. or $99 a year.  The discount in recurring so enjoy the savings for the life of your account.  To learn more and to sign up visit their Newshosting NGR special page.  The registration process is simple.  Just enter your name, email address, desired username, password and payment information.  Newshosting offers PayPal and credit card payment options.  Shortly after signing up you’ll receive an email with everything you need including a link to the Newshosting client download.

Step 2 – Download and Install the Newshosting Usenet Client

By now you’ve received your welcome email from Newshosting.  In it you’ll find everything you need to get started.  Including a link to download their Usenet client.  For future reference you can also log into the Newshosting.com site anytime and access the client download page from within the control panel.

Once you’re on the Newshosting client page simply click on the radio button for the version you’d like to download – Windows, Mac or Linux.  If you have more than one machine Newshosting will let you use the client free on multiple computers and operating systems.  As long as you only connect from one system at any given time.  So those with Windows and Mac systems for example can try out the client on both.

There isn’t really anything to go over in terms of the install.  You’ll download the software based on operating system and then run the file to install the Newshosting client.  The only thing you’ll need handy is your username and password.  Which you can have the client save for future launches if you’d like.

Step 3 – Configuring the Newshosting Usenet Client

If you’re in a big hurry to download something have at it.  The Newshosting client is pre-configured and ready to go.  In addition to the default settings here are a few additional tweaks that we enjoy and find helpful.  To access the Newshosting client settings open the software and click on Options and then Settings.  From there you’ll see several options with associated images to the left of the screen.

Tip #1 : Enable SSL – if you would like to enable 256-bit SSL for all your Newshosting connections just click on the Connection icon and check the “Prefer SSL connections if available” box.  For the SSL port we recommend port 443 since in some cases it will help protect against ISP throttling.  If you want to protect your online privacy beyond just Usenet connections then we suggest you consider a VPN service.

Tip #2 : Search Providers – Newshosting includes a built-in Usenet search engine.  You can search across their entire span of retention and newsgroups for content.  Along with the native Newshosting search they also include Binsearch.info as a search option.  Choosing between the two is very simple.  When doing a search you’ll see a magnifying glass icon to the left.  Click on it and you can choose between Newshosting and Binsearch.info.  Both work well and you can switch between them anytime.

Tip #3 : Download Folder – you can easily change the folder structure where Newshosting will save downloads.  To do so click on the Downloads icon.  Here you can set the main download folder along with preferences for subfolders.  Helping you sort content by newsgroup and/or date.

Tip #4 : PAR2 Repairs and UnRAR – the Newshosting client can take care of repairing partial or damaged files.  Along with extracting the resulting contents.  You can control how Newshosting handles both the PAR2 repairs and UnRAR actions from the Downloads tab in the settings area.

Tip #5 : SafeSearch Feature – Newshosting doesn’t filter search results by default.  Meaning you might run across some adult content when searching newsgroups.  If you would like to reduce the amount of adult content in search results then enable the SafeSearch feature.  Those who want their Usenet experience to remain uncensored can simply skip this step.

How’s that for a quick start for Usenet.  Within a few minutes you’ll be downloading from newsgroups like a pro.  If a friend mentioned needing additional software, newsreader, WinRar, QuickPar, etc. you can skip all of that.  Along with finding a good NZB search site.  The Newshosting client takes care of everything.  You can go back to step 1 to get started or visit our Newshosting NGR special page and then come back for the quick setup tips.

Visit Newsgroup Reviews to learn more about Usenet and follow us @NewsgroupRevs for the latest guides.

Filed Under: Newshosting, Newshosting Client, Usenet Tutorials Tagged With: , , ,

News Server Guide : Logging into Usenet Servers

January 17, 2012 by

Those new to Usenet often wonder how hard it will be to configure the necessary software to download from newsgroups.  Some Usenet providers like Newshosting offer their own Usenet clients which takes care of most the configuration.  While others require third-party newsreaders like Newsbin Pro, Newsleecher or Binreader.  Today we’re going to walk you through setting up UseNetServer and NewsDemon news server connections.

Step One – Select a Usenet Provider

Before you can start to enjoy the benefits of Usenet you’ll want to choose a good provider.  With plenty of services to choose from you’ll want to decide which provider best meets your needs.  We have some favorites.  There are several fine choices available.  You can compare all the options in our Usenet providers area.

After you decide on a Usenet service and sign up a welcome email will follow with the information necessary to log into their news servers.  The emails will differ by provider.  Some just list the username and password while others give additional log in details including news server addresses and default / alternate ports.

If terms like news servers and alternate ports seem confusing right now don’t worry about it.  We’ll walk you step-by-step through the process of adding the news server information to three popular newsreaders.  Using UseNetServer and NewsDemon in our guide.  Each offers unlimited Usenet access for $10 a month.

Step Two – News Server Addresses and Ports

After signing up for Usenet access you’ll receive an email with username and password.  Some will also contain news server information.  If not you can normally search the providers website or refer to our news server / ports table.  If all else fails follow up with the providers technical support.

Here are the news server addresses and port options for UseNetServer:

SSL news server address: secure.usenetserver.com
SSL ports – 563 (default), 443 or 8080
Standard news server address: news.usenetserver.com
Standard ports – 119 (default), 20, 23, 25, 3128, 7000, 8000 or 9000

UseNetServer will automatically route you to the nearest news server for the best performance.  So whether your in the U. S., Europe or elsewhere the server addresses listed above will connect you to the fastest servers.

Here are the news server addresses and port options for NewsDemon:

SSL news server address: us-secure.newsdemon.com or europe-ssl.newsdemon.com
SSL ports – 563 (default), 80 or 81
Standard news server address: news.newsdemon.com or europe.newsdemon.com
Standard ports – 119 (default). US 23, 25 or 80.  EU 443 or 8080.

As you might have noticed NewsDemon has separate news server addresses and standard port numbers for their U. S. and European servers.  You will want to connect to the nearest location for the best performance.

Step Three – Configure News Server Address and Port Number

Now that you have the information necessary you’ll want to choose a newsreader.  This is another area where there are many choices.  For this post we took screenshots from some of our favorite Usenet clients including Newsbin Pro, Newsleecher and Binreader.  All of which allow you to configure alternate ports if necessary.  Alternate ports help some members achieve better performance depending on your ISP.

Let’s start by taking a look at Newsleecher:

You’ll notice we’ve filled out a portion of the ‘Usenet Server Setup’ screen including the news server address and port number for UseNetServer.  We chose their secure server which supports 256-bit SSL connections.  By checking the ‘Use Encrypted Server Connections’ box and setting the port number to 563 we setup a secure connection to UNS.  Next you would just enter the username and password provided for login.

Next up let’s check out Newsbin Pro:

Again you’ll notice we set the news server address to that of UseNetServer’s SSL servers.  This will allow for encryption.  Those who want even more privacy online might also consider VPN service.  We also checked ‘Use SSL’ and ‘Set SSL Port’.  Technically we didn’t have to check the port box since we left the default SSL port.

Finally let’s take a closer look at Binreader:

Binreader is pretty straight forward.  Rather than giving you the option of entering an alternate port they allow you to select whether or not to use SSL.  For encrypted traffic it will set the port to 563 or you can choose port 443.  For those who want to try an alternate port we highly suggest port 443 for UNS.  As this is the same port number used to access other encrypted sites.  So ISP’s are less likely to throttle traffic on port 443.

That’s all there is to configuring the news server address and port information for connecting to your favorite Usenet service.  Take a look at our Usenet tutorials for more helpful guides.

Visit Newsgroup Reviews to learn more about Usenet.  Follow us @NewsgroupRevs for the latest news.

Filed Under: Usenet Tutorials Tagged With: ,

Usenet Clients : Beginners Guide to Newsreaders

November 28, 2011 by

Those new to Usenet can spend a lot of time finding the right Usenet client.  It can be a challenge with all the options out there.  Which is best… a web Usenet interface?  web server client?  traditional newsreader?  After years of downloading from Usenet we have our favorites and will share several of them.  That way you have a wide assortment of choices.  With a list of both free and premium newsreaders to choose from.

We’re going to break out our newsreader recommendations into categories.  First covering clients we find the most useful for those new to Usenet.  Followed by some options for those more comfortable with the how Usenet works.  These typically have more options but also require more technical knowledge to fully take advantage of the benefits.  First let’s take a look at some good choices for new users.

Usenet Clients for those new to Usenet

For those who haven’t downloaded from Usenet before the task of choosing a client can be a challenge.  This guide will help you get set up quickly and fully enjoy newsgroups.  First consider your technical background and whether you want to install a newsreader or browse and download from within your web browser.

If you prefer web browser then look to Easynews as they have the best web interface by far.  Those new to Easynews can test the service free for 14 days.  Easynews offers both web and NNTP access.  So as you become more comfortable you can choose to connect via newsreader or the web interface.

Those who prefer a software client might consider services that include their own clients.  Our favorite is Newshosting.  The advantage being that the Newshosting client comes pre-configured and is very easy to use.  Search for content, preview and download.  The client even takes care of file repairs and extraction.

Newshosting is our favorite all-in-one Usenet service.  They offer unlimited Usenet access with free Newshosting client and built-in Usenet search for just $9.99 a month or $99 a year.  Definitely one of the best values around.  The Newshosting newsreader comes pre-configured and is available for Windows, Mac and Linux.  Read our Newshosting client tour to learn more about the browser.

Binverse is another all-in-one Usenet service.  Their accounts are more expensive than Newshosting and retention a bit lower.  Yet the client is quite good and is available for both Windows and Mac clients.  Those new to Binverse can test the service free for 3 days.  Including up to 60 GB of Usenet downloads.

Usenet clients for newsgroup novices

As you get more comfortable with Usenet the number of newsreader options widens.  Those listed above are still great choices but you also have some other quality clients to choose from.  These newsreaders typically take more knowledge to configure but also offer some pretty cool advanced features.

Newsbin Pro has been a favorite client of ours for years.  Newsbin is intuitive and let’s you configure your Usenet experience.  Set up multiple news servers, search for content using the Newsbin internet (Usenet) search feature and let the client take care of the rest.  Newsbin costs $20 and includes free upgrades for life.  You can download a free 10 day trial to test the client.

Newsleecher is another very good Usenet client.  We especially enjoy their SuperSearch Usenet engine.  The reader is full featured and includes a number of tweaks for advanced users.  You can download a free trial of Newsleecher and test the client free for 14 days.  Newsleecher costs $20-$30 a year based on whether you just get the client or add the SuperSearch feature.  SuperSearch makes searching Usenet very convenient.

Binreader is one of our favorite free binary Usenet clients.  The newsreader is simple to use and includes portable versions so you can run it from a thumb drive.  Having a portable Usenet client is a nice convenience.  Binreader is free to download for Windows, Mac and Linux.

Usenet clients for advanced users or highly technical

Some might skip straight to this category.  If you have lots of technical knowledge and don’t mind configuring scripts then these options might be for you.  You will find a lot of help in the SABnzbd forum from other members as well.  Since SABnzbd is free you can always run it in addition to one of the above clients for awhile.

SABnzbd is a favorite of many veteran Usenet fans.  The web-based client runs as a web server and allows you to download binary files.  With a number of very good add-ons available.  The free client is open-source and available for download on Windows, Mac or Linux.  This one takes some time to tweak and configure.

The power of SABnzbd doesn’t stop with the browser.  Since the client is open-source and insanely popular a number of add-ons have been developed.  You can check out some of the top choices including nzbdStatus, SABConnect and Sick Beard from the SABnzbd home page.  We also enjoy the SABMobile iPad app.

As you configure and tweak the various add-ons and scripts SABnzbd takes on a life of it’s own.  We know a lot of Usenet veterans who love the client while others find it difficult to configure.  For that reason we don’t always recommend it to first time Usenet users unless you have a strong technical background.

Visit Newsgroup Reviews to learn more about Usenet and follow us @NewsgroupRevs for the latest deals.

Filed Under: Newsreaders, Usenet Tutorials Tagged With: ,

Usenet Fans Prepare for Black Friday Sales

November 22, 2011 by

With the Black Friday Usenet deals coming up later this week we’d like to share some suggestions.  Preparing ahead of time can save you time and money as the Black Friday specials are normally time sensitive or offered in limited numbers.  We would like to recommend a strategy that will allow you the best value for unlimited Usenet access plus a good block account for filling missing parts and as a backup.

Here are some tips to help prepare for the Black Friday offers.  In addition to a strategy that will help you enjoy Usenet to it’s fullest.  A solid unlimited account plus a non-expiring block through a different back-end provider.

Tip #1 – Look for the right unlimited Usenet account

There are several quality Usenet providers that offer unlimited Usenet access for $10 a month or less.  We’ll get to the list in a moment.  First consider what you want in a Usenet provider.  Are you looking for extras like a newsreader, Usenet search or online storage?  Some providers like UseNetServer, Newshosting, NewsDemon and ThunderNews offer these types of extras for around $10 a month.  While Easynews and Astraweb offer Usenet-only accounts for around $10-$11 a month.  All plans listed below are special offers.

Here are some suggestions for unlimited Usenet accounts with extras:

1.  UseNetServer : $10 a month for unlimited Usenet + UNS Global Usenet search
2.  Newshosting : $9.99 a month for unlimited Usenet + newsreader with Usenet search
3.  NewsDemon : $9.99 a month for unlimited Usenet + newsreader and online storage
4.  ThuderNews : $10.49 a month for unlimited Usenet + newsreader

Here are some suggestions for unlimited Usenet-only access:

1.  Easynews : $9.95 a month for unlimited Usenet (NNTP-only, without web access)
2.  Astraweb : $11 a month for unlimited Usenet
3.  MaximumUsenet : $9.99 a month for unlimited Usenet

You might also consider these annual specials for additional savings:

1.  UseNetServer : $95 a year for unlimited Usenet + UNS Global Usenet search
2.  Newshosting : $99 a year for unlimited Usenet + newsreader with Usenet search
3.  Astraweb : $96 a year for unlimited Usenet

Here are some new Usenet providers to keep an eye out for on Black Friday:

1.  theUsenet
2.  theCubeNet

Note:  We are recommending services based on their tier-1 providers.  Meaning the back-end servers used by each service.  As you will want the block account to have different back-end servers than the unlimited account.  For that reason we left Ngroups, UseNetNow and FastUsenet off the list.  If you don’t plan on purchasing a block account from the list below as a backup then these services are also fine choices.

Black Friday tip – last year saw some great BF specials.  The best was ThunderNews with $5 unlimited Usenet access.  A deal we haven’t seen matched since.  Keep an eye on our Black Friday Usenet specials post and the Newsgroup Reviews home page for the latest updates.  Last year the deals started early Thanksgiving night.

Tip #2 – Look for the right block Usenet account

Once you choose an unlimited account you’re most the way there.  Purchasing a block account as a backup is kind of like buying car insurance.  You may not use it often but when something happens you’ll be happy you have it.  Luckily block accounts are fairly priced as opposed to most insurance.

There are a couple things to look for in a block account.  The first of which is making sure the block is non-expiring.  If you stick to our list that won’t be an issue as we only recommend non-expiring blocks.  However, if you decide to look around at other options make sure to pay special attention to when the block expires.  As some providers call monthly accounts blocks or expire block accounts every 12 months.

The other thing to consider is who the service uses as their teir-1 provider.  You won’t normally find this information on their site.  Again if you stick to our list and choose an unlimited account from above and block from the upcoming list you’ll be fine.  The reason is you want the block to be on different back-end servers.

We recommend you consider these providers for block accounts:

1.  Usenet-News : block Usenet accounts ranging from 2 GB up to 1 TB
2.  Blocknews : block Usenet accounts ranging from 5 GB up to 3 TB
3.  Astraweb : 180 GB block for $25 (skip Astraweb if you chose them for unlimited access)

That should do it.  We would suggest focusing on the unlimited accounts first.  Then pick up a block plan for fills and as a backup.  Stay tuned to our Black Friday newsgroup deals post for the latest sale updates and please help us spread the word.  Enjoy the savings!  You can also follow us @NewsgroupRevs for the latest offers.

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