Usenet / Newsgroups.

[james_d]

news.ipv6.eweka.nl

Don't really use newsgroups much anymore, but tried downloading a few things and it worked fine, got over 600kb/s. They claim 120day retention.

If the hostname doesn't give it away, you need ipv6 connectivity.

[Spud1]

Giganews is the best for speed, retention and price by far. If you want value for money, and can cope with a binary newsreader client (eg newsbin - still the best for windows imo) then I'd suggest going with them.

Alternatively, for an easier experience look at easynews - they cost a little bit more and only have 100 day retention at the moment (although this is expanding) - but their USP is their web interface. You can have access all all newsgroups and binary content via a simple to use web interface, allowing searching, sorting, automatic un-raring (so only download the AVI you want for example, not 100 rars), automatic PAR rebuilding (to cope with missing files), and of course (since you dont need a news reader) you can access the content from anywhere in the world as long as you have a web browser.

So i'd reccomend easynews for most people, and giganews if your a big downloader whos happy to use a newsreader.

[smithmr8]

I've decided to give Giganews a whirl. I've chosen the Diamond+SSL package, and am going to try the free trial first. If I dont want to continue with it, within their trial period or afterwards.. how do you go about cancelling it ?

[kopite]

THink its just on the account page.

I cancelled my trial because I used the badwidth up before the end lol

[paraffinbrain]

Astraweb pay as you go for me, with Grabit

[da_ging]

i'd recommend http://www.hitnews.eu/english/ and if your net has an on peak and off peak time slot they have just introduced a very cheap nighttime account which looks good

[kopite]

Giganews has just anounced that their retention is now 240

[Betty_Swallocks]

I tried Newsdemon first of all but what really annoyed me with them was the fact that they don't give you all the information up front.
The main reason I chose them was because you could pay with Paypal but what they don't tell you is that if you use Paypal there are restrictions (imposed by Paypal apparently) as to the newsgroups they can supply you. Now it's Paypal that are restricting you so you can't blame Newsdemon for that but if they'd made it clear that I wouldn't get the full service I would have paid with my card instead.

I went over to Giganews and have been perfectly happy with them. The connection to the European server almost always maxes out my 20Mb connection.
Just last night I downloaded a 650Mb file in 4 minutes.

Pah! Who wants torrents when you can have those sort of speeds. That would have taken all n ight, if not longewr with bit torrent.

[Tr0gdor]

I find the Astraweb blocks to be really good, the speed is great and they are upgrading the retention all the time. You don't need to pay monthly which is the best bit for me cos I only use it now and again.

[barker967]

I use Easynews. Never had a problem with them, and they have recently changed the price structuring system and monthly gig bank limit.

I also use Newsbin as my downloader and Newzbin as my indexer (much easier to find stuff with that)

[j.o.s.h.1408]

I tried Newsdemon first of all but what really annoyed me with them was the fact that they don't give you all the information up front.
The main reason I chose them was because you could pay with Paypal but what they don't tell you is that if you use Paypal there are restrictions (imposed by Paypal apparently) as to the newsgroups they can supply you. Now it's Paypal that are restricting you so you can't blame Newsdemon for that but if they'd made it clear that I wouldn't get the full service I would have paid with my card instead.

I went over to Giganews and have been perfectly happy with them. The connection to the European server almost always maxes out my 20Mb connection.
Just last night I downloaded a 650Mb file in 4 minutes.

Pah! Who wants torrents when you can have those sort of speeds. That would have taken all n ight, if not longewr with bit torrent.

What restrictions are there or is this out of date now?

[CaptainCrash]

What restrictions are there or is this out of date now?

AFAIK it's still in effect - if you pay via PayPal, most of the, errmm, adult content of Usenet (which, you will be shocked to hear, is very substantial) will be denied to you. Not that I have ever personally investigated such things of course.

Incidentally, you might also like to take a look at Ngroups.NET - it has over 500 days of retention, and has an option for a recurring subscription, which makes it easy to pay as you go and cancel without fuss if you find it doesn't suit (just let it run out without renewing). I've used the "Unlimited Eco" option to good effect (unlimited downloads, maxes out my Be connection with 12 simultaneous connections).

On the client side, I've tried pretty much all of them, and Newsbin Pro is the one I keep going back to - not free, but has the best combination of features and usability IMO.

[kopite]

I`ve been using astraweb for the past year or so http://astraweb.com/

610 retention

[SiM]

I`ve been using astraweb for the past year or so http://astraweb.com/

610 retention

$11/month special offer for astraweb here:
http://www.news.astraweb.com/specials/kleverig-11.html

[Agent]

I've been using Astraweb since I posted in here last - no major issues and speeds as good as Giganews for my connection . They offer a much better price too!

[b00sfuk]

Another vote for Astraweb block accounts. Moved from Giganews last year and service is just as good and a lot cheaper.