Is Usenet for me?

**primetime34** · 05-13-2011, 12:43 AM

I have been hearing so much about usenet that I'm interested in knowing if it is for me. So I would really appreciate some insight from those who use usenet regularly if it is for me. Here are my current habits:

I only download about 3 current tv shows (although if I could find my wife's Dr Phil online I would download that as well)
I get maybe 10 movies a month (generally in 720p)
I like to get some older shows as well

I can get most of these things from torrent but I'm wondering about the ease of use that usenet would provide me since I'm currently using a XBMC setup and sickbeard + couch potato seem to get huge reviews. Thoughts from experienced users?

Also, what providers would you recommend for a beginner (basically I'm looking for low cost, maybe even a free trial). Thanks.

**mjmacky** · 05-13-2011, 01:17 AM

Try a block account, not subscription based. You should be able to get a taste of how it works for you without commitment and for not too much investment. You might be the type that solely would use a block account. Usenet gets easy once you've done it. It seems daunting at first, but one can quickly adapt once they figure out what's going on.

**sandman_1** · 05-13-2011, 01:24 AM

Usenet can be dirt cheap. I can pretty much get 99% of anything I want: TV Shows, Movies, Games. Dr. Phil might be sort of tricky getting a hold of. I use this site sometimes for TV shows http://www.nzbtvseeker.com/. Unfortunately I didn't see Dr. Phil listed.

Usenet can be bought in blocks, GB's or TB's, or you can get an unlimited account. Free trials are offered by a lot of providers, for instance here http://www.newsgroupreviews.com/free-newsgroups.html

I personally have Astraweb and pay $11/month for unlimited.

**hdjunky** · 05-13-2011, 01:51 AM

Get yourself a block account from blocknews or better yet if you are after motly tv shows sign up with frugal usenet. 100 days retention is more than enough for tv plus its only about 5 bucks a month. For the other stuf you could keep a block account on hand as needed. I have this setup and my cost works out to about 5.50 a month.

**primetime34** · 05-13-2011, 02:27 AM

Any of you use sick beard and/or couchpotato on xbmc? It sounds like I need to just purchase a block account and give it a shot.

Also, I have a family member who would like to get into usenet as well. Is it possible to share an account from two different ip addresses?

**sandman_1** · 05-13-2011, 02:45 AM

primetime34
Also, I have a family member who would like to get into usenet as well. Is it possible to share an account from two different ip addresses?

Some providers don't care as long as 1 ip address is logged in at one time. I usually share my Astraweb account with my family and it works fine.

**Cabalo** · 05-13-2011, 04:22 AM

You could give it a try for free by using a free ISP like just4today.net
It will suite you perfectly if you're downloading mostly 0-day (or up to 10 days old) stuff.

**mjmacky** · 05-13-2011, 04:32 AM

Originally Posted by Cabalo

You could give it a try for free by using a free ISP like just4today.net

I'm curious about free ISPs, do I have to use a paid ISP to connect to a free one? I mean, it's not like my 56.6 kbps modem will connect to one of those old free NetZero numbers anymore. Isn't free broadband just stealing WiFi from your neighbor or tapping in a coffee shop, is it really necessary to create a free ISP these days?

I don't know why I had to ride that slip up so hard. It just took me back to the days of free crap internet...