how to download from usenet?

[viewmaster]

i have a few .nzb files that i want to download but i'm unsure how to download them where i've imported the file into the client client but duno where to go from there.

im using NZB-O-Matic 0.43 as the download client to download the files but that don't seem to be downloading or i don't know how to start them.

can someone recommend me a client or provide a link to a tutorial of how to use usanet to download the files.


thx

[MAXKNOTT]

who is your usenet account with????
here a few setup guides http://www.slyck.com/ng.php?page=3
maybe have a look at them

[W.G.A.F]

Originally Posted by viewmaster

i have a few .nzb files that i want to download but i'm unsure how to download them where i've imported the file into the client client but duno where to go from there.

im using NZB-O-Matic 0.43 as the download client to download the files but that don't seem to be downloading or i don't know how to start them.

can someone recommend me a client or provide a link to a tutorial of how to use usanet to download the files.


thx

You need a (paid subscription) service provider from which to download all the files the .nzb links to. Look at Astraweb or Usenet-news.

I wouldn't recommend you to use NZB-O-Matic being new to Usenet binaries. The reason being is it is a very 'basic' client that only downloads 'all' the files linked within the .nzb file, which may or not be needed with regard to the Par2 recovery files and samples, etc. (wastes your monthly bandwidth allowance) It also doesn't do any unpacking automatically or check files for errors and start recovery processes etc. It's a great little program though if you want to do everything yourself manually which will dump you right in it.

A better alternative would be a program called "Alt.Binz" install that along with another program called "QuickPar". A few settings changes in options of Alt.Binz and you can get it to download, recover if necessary, and unpack to a folder of your choice and delete the rubbish afterwards. Thus doing a lot of the processes for you, though there remains times you may have to manually intervene to some degree with any client.

You can learn a lot about usenet via those programs sites and help files.

This site is also helpful with tutorials http://www.binaries4all.com/index.php

Try and learn as much as possible about the way Par recovery files work. Demystifying them will stop you downloading larger ones or more than you need if the main archive files need repairing.

[MR CHILLED]

I very very rarely have to use Par files, 99% of archives seem to be complete these days.

[MAXKNOTT]

Originally Posted by MR CHILLED

I very very rarely have to use Par files, 99% of archives seem to be complete these days.

do you know of any guides on how to use par files???
i'm a bit unsure as to what i need to do with them when they're needed??

[mortal]

Originally Posted by MR CHILLED

I very very rarely have to use Par files, 99% of archives seem to be complete these days.

Funny you say that, I have to PAR about 50% of what I download.

[MR CHILLED]

Originally Posted by MAXKNOTT

do you know of any guides on how to use par files???

Not really any off hand, but google should have plenty of info. WIki has a little info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parchive

Originally Posted by MAXKNOTT

i'm a bit unsure as to what i need to do with them when they're needed??

When the original archive is incomplete you can use the par(2) files to reconstruct the missing parts of the original archive : )

From memory QuickPar was the application I used to reconstruct the original archive. Reasonably straight forward to use.

Originally Posted by mortal

Funny you say that, I have to PAR about 50% of what I download.

Really!?? That's a terrible rate. Maybe it's dependant on what provider NG you use.....*shrug*

[Zzapped]

Most stuff is intact these days and doesnt need par files.I am a big fan of Easynews due to its web based interface and automated zip manager.It also allows downloading via HTTP:81 as well. Good value @ ~$12.00 P/M for 20G and any unused is rolled over to the following month

Cheers

Z

[W.G.A.F]

Originally Posted by MAXKNOTT

do you know of any guides on how to use par files???
i'm a bit unsure as to what i need to do with them when they're needed??

There's a tutorial in the previous link I posted http://www.binaries4all.com/index.php Look under "Repair Files"

[W.G.A.F]

Originally Posted by mortal

Funny you say that, I have to PAR about 50% of what I download.

That's a pretty unacceptable rate.

I use two services: Astraweb and Usenet-News. Both have cheap block accounts. You can setup one to be a "fill server" which will only connect when it can't find a part of the file via the other server. Or you can use both simultaneously as primary servers to increase the number of connections and thus overall speed. The added benefit of either use is that you get less reliance on Par2 files.

Still I would say I would use a Par2 file in about 5% of cases. Because of the way Usenet works in propagation of files from one server to others worldwide it's possible to get the same corrupted or incomplete file regardless of who you connect to, but 50% indicates something is wrong, most likely with your chosen service provider.

[RoNiNSan]

Try the Alt.Binz client, it doesn't download the pars unless they are needed. Saves a bit of bandwidth.

[gizmo_melb]

Originally Posted by Zzapped

Most stuff is intact these days and doesnt need par files.I am a big fan of Easynews due to its web based interface and automated zip manager.It also allows downloading via HTTP:81 as well. Good value @ ~$12.00 P/M for 20G and any unused is rolled over to the following month

+1 for Easynews

you also get a bonus in GB for how many years you've been a member.

22GB a month still isn't enough for me though, so occasionally I purchase another block of 20GB (+bonus) for $9.98 USD as needed.

If I could find another provider with more quota and a usenet web interface I'd probably use them instead. The web interface and searching is just so easy and useful.

[MR CHILLED]

Originally Posted by gizmo_melb

+1 for Easynews

Easynews user here also.......loved the 20Gig free for Xmas : )

[rodgers]

Originally Posted by Zzapped

Good value @ ~$12.00 P/M for 20G and any unused is rolled over to the following month

I use Astraweb, USD $25 for 90gig, you can use it whenever you want.

[kogi]

+1 for alt.binz

For a server I use astraweb. http://www.news.astraweb.com/

I'm not a big user. So I pay $25US for 90gb, sorta like pre-paid nntp