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> sign up for a free Usenet provider Sorry, but you make it sound like there are many. That allow posting, and free, I think I only know one.

mindcrime 3y ago
Sorry, but you make it sound like there are many. That allow posting, and free, I think I only know one. It's been a while since I looked. I could have sworn there were at least a handful, but either A. I might be mis-remembering or B. the landscape might have changed since I checked last. That said, there seem to be quite few who offer cheap if not actually free access. And by "cheap" I mean, on the order of $10.00 (USD) / month or less.
- dvdkon 3y ago
  I don't think 10USD/month for access to a forum is anywhere near cheap or even reasonable, no matter how big it is. I can't imagine anyone paying that for non-warez Usenet access.
  - kxrm 3y ago
    That pricing is definitely targeted at users who use usenet to trade binary files. If you do not care about binary files then use https://www.eternal-september.org https://www.eternal-september.org, it's free.
  - sigio 3y ago
    Get a provider with a block account... 1GB will last forever on text-groups, and block accounts usually go for 10-1000GB for a few bucks
- fluoridation 3y ago
  That seems rather expensive given the service being provided, i.e. read-write access to a text-only discussion board. Where's all the cost going?
  - ZWoz 3y ago
    Most paid services have binary feeds. Those few, who offer text-only groups don't have big enough client base to make service cheap.
- ZWoz 3y ago
  In the last few years some Usenet providers are closed their doors. Aioe.org was pretty popular and known, disappeared this year. One of few ISP-s still offering Usenet access for clients, Finnish Elisa, closed their usenet server 2021. Russian neva.ru was sadly closed (probably forced by goverment) 2021 (I group it with free servers, because it had read-only access open for everyone and some point allowed posting). Albasani.net disappeared 2020. Some free servers are still around, but don't offer public accounts. Few places give account, if you ask. Eternal September is strongest-biggest still running and free service. Mixmin allows anonymous posting, but sometimes restricts it to fight with abuse. Google still relays groups to Usenet, though they have their own thing going and some servers are blocking posts from google.
hkt 3y ago
https://sdf.org/?faq?USENET?03 https://sdf.org/?faq?USENET?03 Not free, but a few dollars for ARPA membership for life is good.
- reidrac 3y ago
  I'm on sdf-eu. Not sure SDF has external groups anymore, they may do. Just double check because the website has had outdated info before. AFAIK the best options are https://www.eternal-september.org/ https://www.eternal-september.org/ and https://usenet.blueworldhosting.com/ https://usenet.blueworldhosting.com/ (read only though).
throwaway14356 3y ago
http://www.eternal-september.org/ http://www.eternal-september.org/
ogurechny 3y ago
> Subject: Free News Servers Listing Web interfaces: https://www.rocksolidbbs.com/rocksolid/article-flat.php?id=831&group=rocksolid.shared.general https://www.rocksolidbbs.com/rocksolid/article-flat.php?id=8... https://www.novabbs.com/rocksolid/article-flat.php?id=715&group=rocksolid.shared.general https://www.novabbs.com/rocksolid/article-flat.php?id=715&gr... Check the alternative hierarchies and connection options while you're at it. The difference, I suppose, is that Google Groups are run by autopilot with nobody in the cockpit, Eternal September doesn't ask the average user too many questions (it is as accepting as its name suggests), but those small server admins will ask you questions if you start posting crap, and will delete it, and ban the account.

mindcrime 3y ago

Sorry, but you make it sound like there are many. That allow posting, and free, I think I only know one. It's been a while since I looked. I could have sworn there were at least a handful, but either A. I might be mis-remembering or B. the landscape might have changed since I checked last. That said, there seem to be quite few who offer cheap if not actually free access. And by "cheap" I mean, on the order of $10.00 (USD) / month or less.

dvdkon 3y ago
I don't think 10USD/month for access to a forum is anywhere near cheap or even reasonable, no matter how big it is. I can't imagine anyone paying that for non-warez Usenet access.
- kxrm 3y ago
  That pricing is definitely targeted at users who use usenet to trade binary files. If you do not care about binary files then use https://www.eternal-september.org https://www.eternal-september.org, it's free.
- sigio 3y ago
  Get a provider with a block account... 1GB will last forever on text-groups, and block accounts usually go for 10-1000GB for a few bucks
fluoridation 3y ago
That seems rather expensive given the service being provided, i.e. read-write access to a text-only discussion board. Where's all the cost going?
- ZWoz 3y ago
  Most paid services have binary feeds. Those few, who offer text-only groups don't have big enough client base to make service cheap.
ZWoz 3y ago
In the last few years some Usenet providers are closed their doors. Aioe.org was pretty popular and known, disappeared this year. One of few ISP-s still offering Usenet access for clients, Finnish Elisa, closed their usenet server 2021. Russian neva.ru was sadly closed (probably forced by goverment) 2021 (I group it with free servers, because it had read-only access open for everyone and some point allowed posting). Albasani.net disappeared 2020. Some free servers are still around, but don't offer public accounts. Few places give account, if you ask. Eternal September is strongest-biggest still running and free service. Mixmin allows anonymous posting, but sometimes restricts it to fight with abuse. Google still relays groups to Usenet, though they have their own thing going and some servers are blocking posts from google.

hkt 3y ago

https://sdf.org/?faq?USENET?03 https://sdf.org/?faq?USENET?03 Not free, but a few dollars for ARPA membership for life is good.

reidrac 3y ago
I'm on sdf-eu. Not sure SDF has external groups anymore, they may do. Just double check because the website has had outdated info before. AFAIK the best options are https://www.eternal-september.org/ https://www.eternal-september.org/ and https://usenet.blueworldhosting.com/ https://usenet.blueworldhosting.com/ (read only though).

throwaway14356 3y ago

http://www.eternal-september.org/ http://www.eternal-september.org/

ogurechny 3y ago

> Subject: Free News Servers Listing Web interfaces: https://www.rocksolidbbs.com/rocksolid/article-flat.php?id=831&group=rocksolid.shared.general https://www.rocksolidbbs.com/rocksolid/article-flat.php?id=8... https://www.novabbs.com/rocksolid/article-flat.php?id=715&group=rocksolid.shared.general https://www.novabbs.com/rocksolid/article-flat.php?id=715&gr... Check the alternative hierarchies and connection options while you're at it. The difference, I suppose, is that Google Groups are run by autopilot with nobody in the cockpit, Eternal September doesn't ask the average user too many questions (it is as accepting as its name suggests), but those small server admins will ask you questions if you start posting crap, and will delete it, and ban the account.