Big bummer! They don't think many people use the service, or they think
that too many people abuse it (porn, warez, etc.). So they are shutting off
service to existing customers in the middle of October. Many of you
probably already know this . . . I just found out yesterday!

In this economy I am loath to spend another $6 to $12 or more each month for
Newsgroup access when I have it covered with my Comcast bill right now. I
know of Tera News ( http://www.teranews.com/ ) that only costs $3.95 for a
set up fee then is ad supported, but I don't know how obtrusive or un the
ads are. And there is Altopia ( https://www.altopia.com/ ) for $6/mo
starting. There are lots of others, but too expensive.

Do any of you guys use a free newsgroup server? Or use a really inexpensive
server that is good? I only lurk in newsgroups for webmaster information,
HTML info, or the GRC newsgroups for technical learning. I don't go to
binaries groups or download anything from newsgroups, so I don't use a lot
of bandwidth. This group and the GRC groups (which will be unaffected by
the Comcast decision), and a Microsoft Vista newsgroup or 2 (also unaffected
for my viewing) are the only groups I look at on a daily basis. An I don't
want to use a browser to visit, as using Outlook for my newsgroup reader
works perfectly for me (I know most of you will pan this, but it is perfect
for me), so I want to continue with this. So web based newsgroup reading is
not what I'd do on a regular basis.

I emailed Comcast to express my dismay but they wrote back basically saying
"so what" as I read between the lines of their reply.

What say ye?

John

On 2008-09-19, JohnJ <goodnews@goodnews.can> wrote:

> Do any of you guys use a free newsgroup server? Or use a really inexpensive
> server that is good? I only lurk in newsgroups for webmaster information,
> HTML info, or the GRC newsgroups for technical learning. I don't go to
> binaries groups or download anything from newsgroups, so I don't use a
> lot of bandwidth.

Sounds like you are after individual.net at ¤10 per annum. Text groups
only and great spam filtering at the server end.

Andrew
--
Do you think that's air you're breathing now?

"JohnJ" <goodnews@goodnews.can> wrote:

> What say ye?

Use what I use @10 euro/year. See also andrew's reply.

--
John Bokma http://johnbokma.com/

AISE/AWW/SEO/web development forum: http://seo-expert-wiki.com/

JohnJ wrote:

> Big bummer! They don't think many people use the service, or they
> think
> that too many people abuse it (porn, warez, etc.). So they are
> shutting off
> service to existing customers in the middle of October. Many of you
> probably already know this . . . I just found out yesterday!
>
> In this economy I am loath to spend another $6 to $12 or more each
> month for
> Newsgroup access when I have it covered with my Comcast bill right
> now. I know of Tera News ( http://www.teranews.com/ ) that only costs
> $3.95 for a set up fee then is ad supported, but I don't know how
> obtrusive or un the
> ads are. And there is Altopia ( https://www.altopia.com/ ) for $6/mo
> starting. There are lots of others, but too expensive.
>
> Do any of you guys use a free newsgroup server? Or use a really
> inexpensive
> server that is good? I only lurk in newsgroups for webmaster
> information,
> HTML info, or the GRC newsgroups for technical learning. I don't go
> to binaries groups or download anything from newsgroups, so I don't
> use a lot
> of bandwidth. This group and the GRC groups (which will be unaffected
> by the Comcast decision), and a Microsoft Vista newsgroup or 2 (also
> unaffected
> for my viewing) are the only groups I look at on a daily basis. An I
> don't want to use a browser to visit, as using Outlook for my
> newsgroup reader works perfectly for me (I know most of you will pan
> this, but it is perfect
> for me), so I want to continue with this. So web based newsgroup
> reading is not what I'd do on a regular basis.
>
> I emailed Comcast to express my dismay but they wrote back basically
> saying "so what" as I read between the lines of their reply.
>
> What say ye?
>
> John

I use charter cable's service and I've not actually used usenet for a
while, asked them about some errors (on their end) and not a single
tech there even knew what usenet/nntp/newsgroups meant, which made it
very difficult to get any information, since their site has none (other
than the nntp server to use).

Anyway, I think usenet is almost dead, compared to 8-10 years ago when
it was much, much more alive. Everyone's using forums and
"blogs" (ugh) now, and go the way "google" goes. That all said, I
don't plan to ever abandon usenet completely, as long as it exists, and
I'd only suggest that you do the same as I plan to (if you have the
ability (being the server and access)), and just set up your own on
your own server. It's all the best of all worlds then, but clearly not
something just anyone can do on a whim. For now, my cable provider's
nntp servers are working, so I'm putting that off for now, but that's
the plan.
--
Tim Greer, CEO/Founder/CTO, BurlyHost.com, Inc.
Shared Hosting, Reseller Hosting, Dedicated & Semi-Dedicated servers
and Custom Hosting. 24/7 support, 30 day guarantee, secure servers.
Industry's most experienced staff! -- Web Hosting With Muscle!

Tim Greer <tim@burlyhost.com> wrote:

> Anyway, I think usenet is almost dead,

The death of Usenet is like the Year of Linux on the Desktop, and the
release of DNF :-)

> compared to 8-10 years ago when

Wouldn't amaze me if Usenet has currently still more users compared to 8-
10 years ago (text only groups, I don't count people who use it for
sharing binaries)

> it was much, much more alive. Everyone's using forums and
> "blogs" (ugh) now,

Usenet has fullfilled for quite some people the function of a blog for
many years, so I see no problem here. The good thing of a web based blog
IMO is that one can at least make money with it. And of course one can
personalize it. Moreover, it's easier to killfile :-).

In the past I used Usenet often to stay in touch with techniques,
contribute by helping others, and sometimes to look for help. A lot of the
first and second can be done by using Google nowadays. And the helping
others: with Usenet one has to post the same stuff almost weekly. With a
blog, you post it once, and people still find it after years.

The big plus of forums (hint: see sig) is that, in my experience at least,
they are more friendlier compared to Usenet. Also, they allow for things
that are not allowed (or frowned upon) on Usenet (markup, non-ASCII,
pictures). And sometimes that helps (again, IMO) brining ideas acros.

> and go the way "google" goes. That all said, I
> don't plan to ever abandon usenet completely,

I will, soon. I've been away from Usenet a few times, the last time it was
for about a year or so. I am quite sure that I am not going to pay for
another year. Main reason is that when I write on my blog, I'll make
eventually a few bucks with it. Plus that I take more time to research and
write about things (I just spent quite some time to research setting up
Subversion 1.5 on Ubuntu 8.04 LTS, will blog on it soon).

> as long as it exists, and
> I'd only suggest that you do the same as I plan to (if you have the
> ability (being the server and access)), and just set up your own on
> your own server. It's all the best of all worlds then, but clearly not
> something just anyone can do on a whim. For now, my cable provider's
> nntp servers are working, so I'm putting that off for now, but that's
> the plan.

Sounds good to me. From what I understand setting up things is not that
hard if you want to carry just a few groups and a few users. A full text-
only service is probably not going to happen from home for most :-)
Anyway, I see no harm in pruning out a lot of groups. When I started on
Usenet on the early 90's there was no nl hierarchy, it was called nlnet
back then. And I think there where about 3 or 4 groups, and (IIRC) most
people where active in nlnet.misc :-)

--
John Bokma http://johnbokma.com/

AISE/AWW/SEO/web development forum: http://seo-expert-wiki.com/

JohnJ wrote:
> Big bummer! They don't think many people use the service, or they think
> that too many people abuse it (porn, warez, etc.). So they are shutting
> off service to existing customers in the middle of October. Many of you
> probably already know this . . . I just found out yesterday!
>
> In this economy I am loath to spend another $6 to $12 or more each month
> for Newsgroup access when I have it covered with my Comcast bill right
> now. I know of Tera News ( http://www.teranews.com/ ) that only costs
> $3.95 for a set up fee then is ad supported, but I don't know how
> obtrusive or un the ads are. And there is Altopia (
> https://www.altopia.com/ ) for $6/mo starting. There are lots of
> others, but too expensive.
>
> Do any of you guys use a free newsgroup server? Or use a really
> inexpensive server that is good? I only lurk in newsgroups for
> webmaster information, HTML info, or the GRC newsgroups for technical
> learning. I don't go to binaries groups or download anything from
> newsgroups, so I don't use a lot of bandwidth. This group and the GRC
> groups (which will be unaffected by the Comcast decision), and a
> Microsoft Vista newsgroup or 2 (also unaffected for my viewing) are the
> only groups I look at on a daily basis. An I don't want to use a
> browser to visit, as using Outlook for my newsgroup reader works
> perfectly for me (I know most of you will pan this, but it is perfect
> for me), so I want to continue with this. So web based newsgroup
> reading is not what I'd do on a regular basis.
>
> I emailed Comcast to express my dismay but they wrote back basically
> saying "so what" as I read between the lines of their reply.
>
> What say ye?
>
> John
>

Simple. I placed a call to Verizon today and ordered their FIOS
TV/Phone/Internet. And guess what I'll tell ComCast when it gets installed?

Turns out I'll have better service for less money, also.

--
==================
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
jstucklex@attglobal.net
==================

JohnJ wrote:
> Big bummer! They don't think many people use the service, or they think
> that too many people abuse it (porn, warez, etc.). So they are shutting
> off service to existing customers in the middle of October.

This is bad news for me. I depend on comp.language.perl.misc to keep
current on what is happening with Perl. I have not found a Perl forum
that has the quality of discussion that takes place on c.l.p.m.

JohnJ wrote:

> Big bummer! They don't think many people use the service, or they think
> that too many people abuse it (porn, warez, etc.). So they are shutting off
> service to existing customers in the middle of October. Many of you
> probably already know this . . . I just found out yesterday!
>
> In this economy I am loath to spend another $6 to $12 or more each month for
> Newsgroup access when I have it covered with my Comcast bill right now. I
> know of Tera News ( http://www.teranews.com/ ) that only costs $3.95 for a
> set up fee then is ad supported, but I don't know how obtrusive or un the
> ads are. And there is Altopia ( https://www.altopia.com/ ) for $6/mo
> starting. There are lots of others, but too expensive.

Highly recommended, and much used by those in the know, and very, very
reliable (but no bunnies): http://news.individual.net @ 10 yoo-rows or
about 15 US dollars *annually*.

> Do any of you guys use a free newsgroup server? Or use a really
> inexpensive server that is good? I only lurk in newsgroups for

For freebies, see last link in my sig.

--
Blinky
Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org
Need a new news feed? http://blinkynet.net/comp/newfeed.html

Scott Bryce wrote:

> JohnJ wrote:
>> Big bummer! They don't think many people use the service, or they think
>> that too many people abuse it (porn, warez, etc.). So they are shutting
>> off service to existing customers in the middle of October.
>
> This is bad news for me. I depend on comp.language.perl.misc to keep
> current on what is happening with Perl. I have not found a Perl forum
> that has the quality of discussion that takes place on c.l.p.m.

The latest ISP fad is dropping all or part of Usenet; it's been going on
for a few months.

Follow last link in my sig.


--
Blinky
Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org
Need a new news feed? http://blinkynet.net/comp/newfeed.html

JohnJ wrote:

> Do any of you guys use a free newsgroup server? Or use a really
> inexpensive server that is good?

http://news.motzarella.org/

Works for me.
Make sure you keep your user name and password e-mail in a hangy place
as the server seems to want you to re-confrim ever 3 months or so but
apart from that it's brilliant.
oh, and free.