Usenet and torrents

**lsemmens** · 25-09-15, 08:58 PM

I suspect that Telstra are blocking torrent sites now, as I have been unable to get anything working on uTorrent of late so am considering looking into Usenet. From my research it would appear that I'll need additional software to go with my subscription. Does anyone have experience with Usenet and the various clients. What is necessary, how can I tell if a Provider (currently I'm considering Giganews or Astraweb) will provide the content I am looking for? What do you use? Tips and traps? As an example if I wanted to find and download a season of a particular TV show that has not been broadcast for years, what would I need?

**hoe** · 25-09-15, 09:02 PM

Are you using public torrents ?
You need to use private encrypted torrents......

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**lsemmens** · 25-09-15, 09:05 PM

This is not my area of expertise, so I'd suspect that they were public torrents.

**hoe** · 25-09-15, 09:21 PM

I'd ask nicely for a private torrent sites invite and try that. Iptorrents is good.

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**lsemmens** · 25-09-15, 09:49 PM

How are they any different from the likes of Torrentfreak. Do you require a VPN connection? I know how ordinary torrent sites work. i.e. you click on the link which opens in uTorrent and the hard work is all done. How does Iptorrents work? I'm guessing that the content is probably a little less likely to be infected with anything but, what do they offer compared to an open torrent site, compared to usenet?

**hoe** · 25-09-15, 09:50 PM

Encrypted connection. ......

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**lsemmens** · 25-09-15, 11:59 PM

So, will my ISP still be able to determine I am downloading a Torrent, regardless of content? (I presume the encryption only protects the content and the ISP would still know that I am running a torrent client). Sorry if I sound stupid on this, I am a total newbie in relation to Torrents and the like. Would I need to set up a VPN?

**porkop** · 26-09-15, 01:26 AM

No issues here with Torrents!!

**WhiteOx** · 26-09-15, 06:37 AM

I use NewsDemon and buy the blocks.
I use NewsBin Pro for the client.

**Philquad** · 26-09-15, 11:59 AM

usenet works much the same only off servers, not peer to peer
sites post up nzbs (starter file) for just about everything, newsleecher or grabit will dl the files (see phil)
buy some block credit like whitox or pay a sub like u said
giganews is too $
astraweb maybe, ive always been with cant fault it, $10 us on
there are cheaper but some are unreliable
i deffo prefer over torrents as speed is consistant flat out, its not sharing, & most d-l's have par2 fix it files (like 10% extra in case of incomplete)

**lsemmens** · 26-09-15, 01:26 PM

Thanks for the message Phil, I will take you up on that offer. It sounds as though Usenet is not unlike torrents in that you need to a) source your file and b) use a separate client to download it. Am I correct? How does it handle interrupted downloads? Torrents just pick up where they are left off. (BTW I just checked, I'll have to wait a couple of days, my bank accounts haven't got enough in them for even the cheapest usenet at the mo

)

**Philquad** · 26-09-15, 04:59 PM

block accounts arnt bad on a budget

yes they resume as needed

**admin** · 26-09-15, 05:24 PM

lsemmens, there are normally some free trials about from usenet companies, might be worth a Google. I dont know if this page is uptodate, even if it isnt, you can visit the site links for a look to see if there are any trials on offer.

I havent used Usenet for about 10 years so I am far from uptodate

As always, be aware of what you are signing up to. Free trials are fine as long as you can cancel without charge so read any fine print.

**lsemmens** · 27-09-15, 01:53 PM

Thanks guys, I am aware of the free trials. Apart from downloading both legal and not so legal content. What else is usenet about? I keep reading about text retention etc. Is it a glorified email system?

**Philquad** · 27-09-15, 03:33 PM

free trial

this is a must read.

its old, but even i understood it yrs ago.

this looks the go too

**JasonC** · 29-09-15, 10:52 AM

I was an avid user of usenet before we all got the amlogic boxes - now I stream everything

I used a program called altbinz to download the usenet files, however, I personally think usenet is not that viable anymore as the takedown of files happens very quickly these days often within hours and beyond 48-72 hours for most things forget it

maybe think about streaming instead - I'm on Telstra no streaming issues plus files are available for a lot longer than usenet

**Philquad** · 29-09-15, 01:19 PM

dunno about that
they use tricky file names nowadays to confuse the dcma like "dont download this" .rar
i get up to 2000 days retention

**lsemmens** · 29-09-15, 04:00 PM

From all of my reading from the above links and others I'll probably sign up for a trial period tomorrow (money in bank then) and see how I go. Thanks for the offer of a "walk through" phil, I think I have an idea now. Seems to be more anarchy than well moderated stuff on Usenet. As for Telstra and streaming, might be ok if you have a good Internet connection but because I am in a small community the best I can muster seems to be about 16Mbs (as of this minute) but typically is around 9Mbs. I am with Telstra and NBN isn't even on the radar yet. Streaming works sometimes but I do get a bit of buffering from time to time, hence my desire to download and watch without interruption.

**irwazza** · 29-09-15, 04:28 PM

The best option for you I believe is to get an invite to a private torrent tracker (torrentday or iptorrents).

Get a seedbox for a month ($15).

Get your ratio stupid high. ( I am currently running one for a mate, getting approx 350gig uploads per 24hrs)

After the month cancel the seedbox, and continue using the private torrent tracker.

Depending on how much you download, this ratio will last years!

**lsemmens** · 29-09-15, 07:35 PM

Thanks Wazza, the concern that I have with torrent trackers is that My ISP may actually be blocking torrent sites as per my OP and Seeding may leave me open to other issues at law. And, given the fact that my Internet plan does not provide for a particularly high speed, I am concerned about bandwidth issues in regards to torrents and the like. I've determined that USENET tends to be more server based as opposed to distributed distribution in torrents.