How to Pick A Usenet Provider

Usenet has a huge base of data and documents. There are many different things to look for when choosing a provider.

1. Are you going to be downloading text files or binary files (audio, video, etc.)? 

Binary files are much bigger and take longer to download than text files. If you are going to be downloading text files then your speed available by a provider and the number of connections is not significant. But if you will be downloading binary files then speeds and connections are essential. Some Usenet providers offer packages with limit downloading speeds and offer only a few connections. Other providers offer packages with unlimited speeds and more connections.

2. Completion and retention rates the Usenet providers provide you with. As above when you are only downloading text files, completion rates will not likely matter because text files are posted as a single file. Many of the providers deliver high retention rates for text files because they don’t demand a substantial amount of server room to store. You will need more completion rates if you are downloading binary files. Because binary files are much larger in size, they’re split into smaller files when posted on the Usenet. Once downloading, your newsreader reassembles the binary file into its initial state. Completion rates are what portion of the binary files are recovered. You want the highest completion rate anything to low will likely be ineffective, considering the fact that an imperfect binary file can’t be reassembled. In the last year, a retention rate "war" was fought among the top Usenet providers. Usenet users benefited as retention rates of binary files has grown with some providers to over a year and a half!!

3. As you are deciding on a provider, you should also make a decision of what volume of data you may be downloading over what period. Some Usenet providers have available block accounts in which you buy a “block” of bytes you could download, most over any period of time. Most Usenet providers sell monthly plans, where you have a set measure of bytes to download each month. At the beginning of each month, your bytes reset to whatever package you purchased. If you are not sure of the amount of bytes you need, start with a block plan and pay for more as required. Once you know your downloading patterns, you can change to a monthly subscription.

Available Block Packages