Decent *free* news server recommendations

[johnny boy]

Hi All,

The old man is currently signed up to BT Openworld and I'm trying to get him fixed up for using newsgroups.

The problem is that the BT news server I tried (news.btopenworld.com) seems pretty bad for retention, especially with binary groups.

I personally use Demon at home and their news server seems pretty good but it appears that you can't use it if you don't connect using a Demon account.

I know you get what you pay for but I doubt whether the old man is prepared to dig his CC out!

So, any suggestions for a decent free news feed that's not ISP specific - it's mainly the MP3 groups he's after.

Cheers

John

[ben789]

I don’t think there are any free ones which will serve binaries.

This is a free system (no binaries): http://news.individual.net/

And if you want binaries then your going to have to pay (i.e. www.easynews.com /etc.).

Why not use a P2P system?

[plotloss]

www.slsk.org

All the MP3's you can eat...

[theexcession]

It's not the best way to get at them but if you really want binaries groups thay are all available through Google!

Not sure if you cna post that way tho.

best
Ex

[johnny boy]

theexcession said:

It's not the best way to get at them but if you really want binaries groups thay are all available through Google! Not sure if you cna post that way tho. best Ex

I've just tried Google groups - there doesn't seem to be an alt.binaries listed which is really where I need to start!

John

[rich-uk]

news.public.demon.co.uk (or .net), don't know if it's still there though...

[theexcession]

johnny boy said:

I've just tried Google groups - there doesn't seem to be an alt.binaries listed which is really where I need to start! John

Yep, sorry John, you're right they bdon't list the binaries groups but you can search for for articles in them - not much use really.

sorry for leading you up the path

Guess it looks like you'll need to sign up somewhere for access.

Ex

[theexcession]

johnny boy said:

- it's mainly the MP3 groups he's after.

Duh, maybe if I read your post properly.... If you're after MP3s then Morpheus, Kazar and Piolet will likely provide more than you can shake a player at.

best
Ex

[johnny boy]

There may be some stuff for him on Kazaa but he's after classical and jazz which I doubt your average Kazaa user is in to!

I use the newsgroups for mainstream stuff and personally find them so much easier (and quicker!) to use than the P2P stuff.

I guess, then, that plan B will have to come in to effect and he'll have to subscribe somewhere, although I still can't believe that BT's news server is so crap!

Thanks for all your advice chaps

John

[theexcession]

johnny boy said:

There may be some stuff for him on Kazaa but he's after classical and jazz which I doubt your average Kazaa user is in to! I use the newsgroups for mainstream stuff and personally find them so much easier (and quicker!) to use than the P2P stuff. I guess, then, that plan B will have to come in to effect and he'll have to subscribe somewhere, although I still can't believe that BT's news server is so crap! Thanks for all your advice chaps John

Still be worth giving the usual P2P suspects ago - I was pleasantly surprised at whats out there! Otherwise as you say its get your wallet out time.

Have you tried contacting BT and getting their policy on binaries groups - it may be that they are just having problems at the moment and could be planning to hold far more stuff in thenear future.

I know when I used BT Connect (5 years ago) it was pretty poor - loads of email problems. You'd have thought that the telecommunications giants would be getting their heads round packet switched networks by now....


best
Ex


>> Edited by theexcession on Friday 29th August 15:27

[plotloss]

johnny boy said:

There may be some stuff for him on Kazaa but he's after classical and jazz which I doubt your average Kazaa user is in to! I use the newsgroups for mainstream stuff and personally find them so much easier (and quicker!) to use than the P2P stuff. I guess, then, that plan B will have to come in to effect and he'll have to subscribe somewhere, although I still can't believe that BT's news server is so crap! Thanks for all your advice chaps John

Try the SoulSeek link above, its not failed me yet and my music taste is slightly obscure...