NTL News Server Help

[invincible]

I am interested in getting into newsgroups. Before moving to a pay server i thought i would try using the ntl one first.
I have a few questions
I believe they have 7 days retention, is this true? Is there a limit to how much you can download? Do they have problems with users downloading large amounts? Do they monitor the server, or keep logs? Would you recommend i use it (mainly to practice with and understand newsgroups further)?

Thank You

hi

the NTL news server is ok to 'practice' on, but you may end up getting frustrated when you get a bit more into newsgroups.

The download 'limit' is subject to the same 'fair use' policy as your overall connection.

In my opinion the main 'problems' compared to paid for servers are that many busy binary groups, especially media ones, are not carried, retention times can vary depending on how busy the groups are, and the completion of multi part binaries can sometimes be iffy.

However, it is effectively free, so I don't see why you should't give it a go.

[ldc2710]

i found the ntl news server very good for a free service


i wouldnt pay for a news server as i got a better source and in my eyes paying for em is a rip of due to poop limits

[Richy99]

Originally Posted by ldc2710

i found the ntl news server very good for a free service


i wouldnt pay for a news server as i got a better source and in my eyes paying for em is a rip of due to poop limits

what limits?

[ldc2710]

unless ur willing to pay for premium accounts u will have a x amount limit e.g giga news offer 25 gig for $12.99 or unlimited for $24.99

[Richy99]

Originally Posted by ldc2710

unless ur willing to pay for premium accounts u will have a x amount limit e.g giga news offer 25 gig for $12.99 or unlimited for $24.99

many providers offer $14.99 unlimited which is about £8.50 so for that amount of what? 3 pints maybe

I pay 16 quid to giganews and loast month downloaded over 600 gig off there so poop limits?
Private trackers are all well and good but still rely on seeds I get full 10 meg off giganews pretty much 24/7. I cant see how thats not value for money. Most titles are on the newsgroups before the trackers also

[ldc2710]

the reason i wouldnt pay for newsgroups is i get my stuff before them at my full net speeds with no limits,ntl news server is ok cos its free but other than that they can whistle


theres been a few times ive hit over 1tb a month (no i dont sell it)

[IanUK]

Originally Posted by ldc2710

theres been a few times ive hit over 1tb a month (no i dont sell it)

Glad I don't live near you !

[grubbymitts]

Originally Posted by ldc2710

the reason i wouldnt pay for newsgroups is i get my stuff before them at my full net speeds with no limits,ntl news server is ok cos its free but other than that they can whistle


theres been a few times ive hit over 1tb a month (no i dont sell it)

Careful...some authorities may believe you have Topsite access with talk like that.

[popper]

Originally Posted by invincible

I am interested in getting into newsgroups. Before moving to a pay server i thought i would try using the ntl one first.
I have a few questions
I believe they have 7 days retention, is this true? Is there a limit to how much you can download? Do they have problems with users downloading large amounts? Do they monitor the server, or keep logs? Would you recommend i use it (mainly to practice with and understand newsgroups further)?

Thank You

heres an easy answer for you:
you might try installing Hamster , a local lan news server and then dont need to worry about retention, just poll once or twice a day.

hamster will poll any servers you set, and you then point any of your news readers to the local hamster server copy.

http://www.elbiah.de/hamster/doc/index.htm
http://clients.net2000.com.au/~johnf/hamster2