Usenet How To: Getting Started With Usenet

If I was asked to describe the Usenet experience in a way that the average internet user could understand it, I would say, “It's a lot like BitTorrent without all the hassle, and uncertainty.” Why hassle, and uncertainty? The hassle is that you have to seed or risk being penalized for not seeding, and the speeds leave much to be desired. The uncertainty is in the fact that privacy and security are compromised. Want to do away with the hassle and uncertainty of getting your files using torrenting? Stick around, you could learn something here.

Everyone knows about torrents. For the last few years this has been the trend in file sharing. It works like this: First you get a torrent file, then that file will get you a tracker. The purpose of the tracker is to help your BitTorrent client locate the other computers on the internet that have that file and are available to share it. (Seeding.) How fast you are able to download the file that you need will only be as fast as the slowest computer that is seeding that file. And even if the seeds you find are quite fast, the download may be slow if the file is popular and the seed is bogged down with a lot of requests.

Another major downfall is that torrenting is a rather public activity. There are ways to attempt to disguise and hide your activities from prying eyes, but even the most considerate of the trackers must give away some information. At the very least your proxy or seedbox will be revealed. So even using a private tracker will be a public activity. In contrast to this, Usenet is completely secured and private, many clients having VPN built right in, and speeds will be only as fast as your internet connection will allow.

Usenet is the father of the internet we know today. The original concept was a global discussion system. Everything from hacking hardware to politics was discussed back then, and even though these days are long gone, many groups still exist and are in daily use by their members. At that point, those that wished to share software, photos, or other non-text type material had to break their material into thousands of sequential messages that had to be downloaded and then reassembled correctly by the user. A time consuming and daunting task that often ended in failure for one reason or another. Everyone;s frustration eventually led to the invention of the NZB file.

Since then, the inception of the NZB file to transport binary files has kept Usenet very popular among “those in the know.” An NZB file is a non-text file that is broken up into many parts, much like torrent files, to be shared across Usenet. The exact who and where of the concept and invention of the NZB is a subject of much discourse today, but the fact that it works well is quite clear. An NZB file has an XML index that will allow a Usenet client to find all the parts of a binary file on a single server, then download all the parts of the file and assemble them in the correct order. Much like a torrent file, but without all the globe hopping. The single servers speed, (and your internet connection,) will determine your download speed. Slow seeds and privacy issues will be a thing of the past here.

Besides internet access, your computer and the desire? You're going to need a provider, an index of NZB's, and a client. We'll discuss all three, but first a note of caution.

There has been a lot of contention lately concerning Usenet and copyright infringement...some court systems have even gone so far as to order search indexes to be blacklisted from an ISP's indexes. I don't condone illegal downloading or copyright infringement, but in the end, how you use it is up to you. The instructions here are for informational purposes, and I am assuming you will be downloading open source software, movies, music and other files.

Now, back to the instructions...remember, nothing illegal.

I know, the best things in life are free, but sometimes a person must remember: You get what you pay for. This is the case with Usenet. But before you start looking for a provider to get access, you'll need a few definitions to keep you from being confused, and to help you find the provider that will get you the best service within your budget.

Retention: How long a Usenet providers server will keep the binary files around. Most providers already maintain files for more than 3 years, but this is important to look at. As A general rule, look for at least 800 days or more.

Data Caps: Many providers offer unlimited services, but for the more frugal minded there are tiered services ranging from 10GB on up. Prices are lower this way, but you have to watch your usage.

Server Connections: Good to know if you are on a fiber optics connection, but otherwise, you will clog up the average broadband connection if you use more than 5 or 10. Most providers allow 20 or more anyway.

Security: You want security features...it's part of your reason to get Usenet. SSL is always a must, and many of the providers will have a VPN service incorporated in their client. Some even offer secured storage too.

In the interest of brevity, I will list only a couple of providers here with the info you will need the most. For more detailed information and a complete list of providers you should visit usenetreviewz.com We'll start with the most popular of the services:

• Giganews: The most popular, and a limo among taxis. With 20 years in the business they offer over 1,100 days of binary retention. Their client has VPN and SSL. Unlimited access and tiered access are available, and their tech support is one of the best.

• Astraweb: For the budget minded user. A no frills service that offers both unlimited and tiered access, excellent retention, and outstanding tech service. SSL is also available to those so inclined, too.

• Newshosting: Unlimited speeds and access are available, as well as tiered. SSL is available and their crew just rolled out a new browser for their customers.

Now that you have access to the Usenet community, you will need a good browser. I know that many providers give you a client for browsing, but some clients are more difficult than others and the learning curve can be quite steep. I personally use and recommend the SABnzbd client for beginners, as it is easy to use and the learning curve is gentile for those with fewer technical skills. This client also comes with many very cool features, and if something is not there you need, it can be found and added into the client easily.

Now you have access to all the best open-source material at speeds you wouldn't believe, and with the security and privacy you have a right to.

More info ? UsenetReviewz can help you choose the Best Usenet Service