A key component to Usenet is the newsreader. Most people are unfamiliar with this software, but you can think of it like a web browser for Usenet. Newsreaders are the portals through which users access Usenet posts or add their own to ongoing Usenet discussions.
It can be confusing for users unfamiliar with the software to set up and use a newsreader. That’s why we’re going into detail about how to use a newsreader so you can get the most out of your Usenet subscription.
Configuring a Newsreader
Every newsreader has different features and capabilities, but there are some universal rules that apply to all newsreaders.
Initial configuration will require the following information:
- A Usenet server address from your provider
- Your Usenet service subscription login and password
- Whether you intend to use SSL connections
- The number of connections
The Usenet Server
Similar to entering a URL into a web browser to access a web page, you need to configure your newsreader with a Usenet server address to access your provider’s archive of Usenet content.
Usenet servers store the Usenet archive (up to their provider’s retention rate), so you only need one server address. When you sign up for a Usenet subscription, you’ll be given the appropriate address or addresses to add to your newsreader.
When you are given the option of multiple server addresses, this is generally because one is protected by SSL and one is not or your Usenet provider has server farms in multiple locations. Most of the same data is on every server farm, but performance might change based on your physical proximity to a particular server or the amount of requests the server is experiencing simultaneously.
We recommend using SSL-protected servers whenever possible and testing additional server locations at different times throughout the day to determine the best performance from your location.
Usenet Login and Password
In the Settings of your newsreader, there will likely be a place to input your Usenet username and password given to you when you signed up for a Usenet subscription or block account.
Without this information, you can’t log into Usenet at all. Once you have your information put into your newsreader, however, you won’t have to worry about it again.
SSL Connections
As we mentioned above, Usenet providers will often have different servers (or at least different ports) for users who want to utilize SSL connections.
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is an encryption protocol that keeps your Usenet data from being intercepted and read by hackers. Many modern websites also use this protocol, especially banks and government services. It’s an easy way to make sure nobody is watching your Internet activity.
It’s a good idea to use SSL enabled Usenet servers whenever possible. They have very little effect on your speeds and provide an extra layer of security to keep you safe on Usenet.
Number of Connections
This is a slightly more advanced configuration technique. Every Usenet service gives its customers a number of potential connections to its servers. You control how many of those connections you will enable for yourself in your newsreader settings.
In general, the more connections you use, the faster speeds you’ll get, but this isn’t always the case. Once you have a basic understanding of using a newsreader, it’s a good idea to start experimenting with your Usenet connections, starting with a low number then slowly increasing until you are no longer getting faster data transfers.
This isn’t necessary to configure your newsreader, but it will improve your Usenet experience.
What to Do If You Have Multiple Providers
If you have subscriptions or blocks with multiple providers, you’ll need to do the same configuration process for all of them. Most newsreaders will ask you to choose a primary provider (usually the one with the highest retention rate), and all the rest are secondary providers. If an article can’t be found from your primary provider, your newsreader will check the servers of your secondary providers to see if it might be there.
Using a Newsreader
Modern newsreaders come in two types: full newsreaders and downloaders.
Full Newsreaders
If you want to participate in text discussions or read text posts on Usenet, you need a full newsreader. This is a Usenet client that will find and retrieve headers from Usenet posts so you can see everything, text and binary, that has been posted to a particular newsgroup.
Many providers will include full newsreaders that are also pre-configured with the appropriate servers to make it easy to access Usenet. Newshosting, Eweka, and Tweaknews are notable examples.
Full newsreaders can also include a built-in Usenet search feature that allows users to find the specific posts they’re looking for without having to rely on a third-party index site. The providers mentioned above are good examples of this, but Easynews’s web-based Usenet search functions like a newsreader with an integrated search feature that can be used on any device with a web browser.
Downloaders
Usenet downloaders are not technically “newsreaders” in the strictest sense, but they function like them in specific ways.
A Usenet downloader can only be used to download binary posts with the help of NZBs. The most popular of these are NZBGet and SABnzbd. Downloaders often have more automation options and community mods to customize performance.
They cannot access text posts at all, however, and you cannot upload articles to Usenet through them. Moreover, they do not have integrated Usenet search and often require an additional Indexer subscription to work.
Using Your Newsreader
If you have a full newsreader, the first thing you’ll want to do is connect to the Usenet server and download headers for the newsgroups you’re interested in. Headers are short pieces of text that tell the user what a particular post is about, who posted it, how old it is, etc. By downloading those first, you can more quickly find the posts you would like to read and only download the complete article once you have.
If your newsreader has search integrated into its design, you can try entering a query just like you would on Google and use filters to narrow down the results to what you actually want.
NZB files can also be used to pinpoint the exact articles you’re looking for. Most newsreaders and all downloaders allow you to import NZB files and will then retrieve the appropriate posts automatically. Most binaries on Usenet are split into multiple articles, so your newsreader can also reassemble them for you.
Each newsreader functions slightly differently from the others, so you should take the time to familiarize yourself with the documentation. Once you get the hang of it, though, you’ll be surfing Usenet with ease.
