This is a good option to a private VPN.
Usenets are generally faster (should be your max connection speed) and more secure than using a Proxy server
Astraweb have been around for years and is regarded as one of the better Usenet providers.
Astraweb Usenet Access US $8/Month Normally US $15/month
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Just learned something new. Had iinet and astraweb (paid) for over 5yrs and never knew you could use it for free…silly old me.
Maybe with torrent closing a bigger usenet community will commence…..australian spotnetYeah it was discovered by accident by some people on whirlpool a while ago when iiNet bought Internode. But it works on an iiNet account, verified on a mate's iiNet connection. So I'd assume it works for all of them (Westnet, Netspace, Adam etc) just by pointing it at their respective news server.
FREE WITH INTERNODE? Why am I still here?!
So…. what do people use for search engines nowadays? Used to be quite a lot of good free ones but they have all but dissapeared or have become premium only.
They close & restart but many of the old ones are still around and, as we did in the past, ensure you use a few different engines for best results.
As an example: For general media you could use NZBSearch, but for Anime you may additionally use AnimeNZB.
Personally, for anyone who hasn't touched Usenet for a while (or are new to it) I'd recommend a program like Newsbin (with search subscription). Get a couple of subscriptions to Astraweb & UseNetServer, plus all the free ones.
LifeHacker web site once had some good info on the topic, not sure on it's current state.
I have been using NZBgeek for a couple of years now and 95/100 can find what I'm looking for.
I would love a suggestion for a good music focussed search engine though
Headphones?
I had a go at making it work, but gave up pretty quickly. Not sure what I was doing wrong. Maybe time to give it another shot.
Personally, I wouldn't recommend Astraweb an an alternative to torrents for 'certain types' of downloads. They use automated DMCA takedown (i.e. you'll probably not find what your looking for cause it will be taken down straight away). More info easy to find with a quick Google search. Also, should note that the price listed is $8 USD / month.
Not really.. It's nowhere near as bad as what some people claim it is. An EU block account with a separate provider and you'll only need to hit it a few times.
Fine for most things but if your looking to download anything that falls under the DMCA agreement, which is really want all the torrent strife is about, you'll be hitting that block or backup account all the time - that content won't be hosted on Astraweb servers.
Lol yeah ok mate. Must be why my 250GB block with Tweaknews has lasted for 2 years (with 180GB left) and I've download close to 3.5TB from Astraweb in that time.
But you know, nothing is on Astraweb..
@Porthos: I don't think quakka is trying to say there is nothing on Astraweb he is saying that some popular content is being taken down very quickly at Astraweb (for example Game of Thrones this weekend). Unless you have a server connected to a big internet pipe and can get it very quickly it will probably be taken down before it completes. If you want to download Mike and Molly tv episodes you will have no problem with Astraweb.
@Porthos: Well Lol - read what I wrote. "Fine for most things …" but it is a fact that they have implemented a quick response policy to DMCA takedown requests (it's on their web site). I've also read (but not verified) that it's actually an automated process.
It's pretty obvious that a lot of people are looking for an alternative to torrents for 'certain types' of downloads. I just want to point out that Astraweb may not be the best option for this.
BTW - I've been using them for about 10 months myself (on the 2 months for $15 USD plan), so I've got a pretty good feel for what they are good for. I never said "nothing is on Astraweb"@quakka: And Porthos also said that Astraweb is fine as long as you have an EU block account to make up for what Astraweb is missing. This is exactly what I do and so far I have not had any issues downloading anything either new or over a year old.
@vger74656:
I use the dutch spotnet community. Works pretty well as long as you check it every day. Takedowns are definitely on the rise but you cant beat the privacy and speed@vger74656: What you and Porthos are saying is that using Astraweb and say Tweaknews together is the way around these rapid DMCA takedowns at Astraweb. So tweaknews should provide any missing blocks that cannot be supplied from Astraweb?
Pretty much. As is shown by my download stats I said before, it's barely having to hit the Tweaknews backup. Most DCMA takedowns just take out some parts of the files (so they 'fail' as a download as the rar isn't complete, but picking up the few missing parts from the backup server) so your backup is only used for the missing rars, not for the entire download.
So yes, the majority of stuff is still on Astraweb, and if it's not, multiple copies are generally uploaded with different names so they're not picked up automatically.
Just sign up for a Tweaknews 1 week trial, once that's up they should send you a link to special pricing. Think it was €11 for a 250GB block.
Thanks you are correct it is US. I updated title.
I agree with quakka! Automated take down stops most popular dl's.
Astraweb have pay by download plans if you want to try them out before committing to an annual plan:-
http://www.news.astraweb.com/plans.html
25GB - $10
180GB - $25
1000GB - $50I find the 1000gb plan suits me fine. Sometimes I won't download anything for a while so I prefer pay-as-you-go.
I started using Usenet again the past week or so because I wanted to get some old TV shows for a friend.
I've been using ThunderNews and NZBgeek and it has been pretty impressive so far.
I have downloaded about 1TB over the past 3 days hitting max speed almost all the time(I have 117mpbs Telstra cable).
I had to reset my data usage twice but well worth it.
So yeah ThunderNews and NZBGeek have been a good combo for me if anyone else was interested.
I have 117mpbs Telstra cable
Still dreaming of cracking 10mbps, I am so jealous right now!
You may not be so jealous when I tell you I pay $133/month for 500GB lol :P. Speed is nice though.
Those are the times I am glad I have fttb.
No, I still am. Would definitely pay that if given the choice. I'm paying 80 for shitty 4Mbps.
I got the same plan for 79 a month, you should renegotiate
That's why I'm happy with Optus 100mbps unlimited for $90 per month :P
@apoptygma: Does that include the speed boost? How do I 'negotiate' with Telstra? Any tips would be appreciated, thanks.
Yea speed boost, 500gb p/month free install, free activation, free gateway max (802.11ac) router. Just bust their balls till they give you what you want. Telstra is hurting for subs, threaten to leave, get their saves team on the phone, call multiple times and talk to different operators at different times of the day etc.
Not that much of a special as this has been around for ages http://www.news.astraweb.com/specials/2mospecial.html
$15 for 2 months equals 7.50 per month
Maybe OP can add this to post?
I am an iinet subscriber. How can I get the free service on Astraweb?
That's only text not binary…
That article says news.iinet.net.au does not allow you to download attachments and only read/post…
use news.internode.on.net for node/iiNet and eventually, maybe, TPG.
it generally won't work if you're not using the internode network, much like Netflix isn't free quota if you're not on the iiNet network (or other networks, eventually)
it should work, but check on whirlpool.net.au forums for any particular problems. It's an astraweb mirror so you should be able to get binaries, but, tie it with an EU block server (I use cheapnews, but there's lots of choices) ,
or a US block server for when/if the mirror is removed, NGD often has terabyte block deals for $30 or $40, and there's a few "unlimited" plans for $60/yr that come up.
it generally won't work if you're not using the internode network
It won't work at all if you're not on the iiNet/Internode network :-P
Hopefully it isn't removed, there's been talk or it being removed for many years now but it's still there. I think Node know if they remove it many people will jump ship unless they reduce their prices accordingly.
Not much chance of that happening though, even with Telstra's latest plan update doubling most of their quotas, Internode is looking very left out in the cold in the way of value sadly.
I think node's astraweb mirror been around for 8 years or more, yeah since 2007 or 8 ? it's been several years after it was removed from their website, and a few years since it was "quietly" shut down, at least. It also used to have giganews tied into it, as an aggregate mirror, it covered a ton of content sharing that was much, much faster than Channel BT. it might still have GN feeds, who knows.
the good old days of 100gb/month ADSL, sic. it was the one good reason people payed $120/month versus an iinet/optus/TPG equivalent of $70-$90/month, until usenet generally became cheaper and better, and ADSL2+ improved prices, allowed "naked" DSL more easily, quotas, etc.
From memory, some/most quota free services aren't available on NBN wireless, or node/iiNet 3G/4G, i'd say generally it's a bit iffy, and if it does work for you, you've saved yourself $60/yr or more.
Its probably all on the TPG chopping block, along with the Sky+ / DI: house etc 256k radio streams, a massive Linux mirror, maybe the steam content servers / xbox live content servers, which are also on the iinet feeds, and fetchtv/iview/Netflix, I think that's about all that's left of internode's value/speciality after the iiBorg takeover.
Though its hilarious in a way to think that TPG has enough scale to absorb the 6-7 ISPs in the iinet group.
There are virtually no quota free activities on Telstra though. unless you watch football. a lot.
with Netflix coming in at 15-30gb/day for regular viewing of HD streams, that's a large percentage of quota being used, from 300gb-600gb/month or more. Generally that would be unlikely, but its possible
Its important to note that this plan is 'Paypal payment method only'
An equivalent plan (some would say duplicate) is available at my old post: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/114087
This provides the same for $7.50/month (billed bi-monthly @ $15USD) also only via PayPal, for those looking for the best price.Additionally, usenet users often purchase 'blocks' to assist with file repairs/missing parts from other providers.
I partner my primary astraweb account with a block account from thecubenet - https://thecubenet.com/block-plans.htm?lk=084Purchased blocks do not expire, and suit some downloaders better then monthly plans, but to each their own.
If you have a connection speed of 10Mbps or less, better off with the $20/3 months ($6.66 a month) from them.
Or just be with Internode (or the other iiNet subsidies) who get access to Astraweb anyway;-)