Sharable Usenet Block deal from theCubeNet: 500GB/$25, 1TB/$50 and upwards

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mikeford

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2001
5,671
160
106
Year or so ago I bought a block from Astraweb for I think $20 or $25, checking it now shows I have downloaded 50 GB and have 70GB left. I like it, but within a month or two of the offer I bought they doubled the amount, but my usage is not too high for it to really matter.

If you create some content, write an application, take some pictures, and want to share them there are three main ways, torrents, fileshares, and usenet binary groups. Different sorts of people populate each of them, and usenet isn't just binary files it has thousands of text based message groups on pretty much all topics.

Torrents are easiest, best search tools, no cost, focus on recent and popular, usually very clear what exactly is in the files.

File sharing services are a pain to use, full of easy missteps, free with nagging and delays, have some exclusive or rare content.

Usenet around before the others, likely to stay, requires paying for server access ***, requires some learning about how to use it, pay for tools and some index services, good providers hold everything posted in the last 3 or 4 years and it keeps getting longer.

*** Access to a usenet server used to be bundled in all normal ISP agreements, and started getting dropped a few years ago. This is actually sort of a good thing, as most of the servers are now in "safe" locations and operated professionally and very hands off on content.
 
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wrinkefreeon3

Junior Member
Nov 22, 2011
18
0
0
walloyyy said:
I justified a block account because I download only about 20gb a month, very slow internet connection :( the 500GB account should last me about 2 years at my current rate compared to paying $11 a month for a unlimited.
Click to expand...

I'm also a noob, to forums and was using torrent user, but am starting to use usenet instead. a buddy of mine told me about http://www.theusenet.com/leap-year-specials.php and i got the block deal for 17.29 for 290gb, which was plenty the stuff i dowdlaod.
 
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leeland

Diamond Member
Dec 12, 2000
3,659
0
76
wrinkefreeon3 said:
I'm also a noob, to forums and was using torrent user, but am starting to use usenet instead. a buddy of mine told me about http://www.theusenet.com/leap-year-specials.php and i got the block deal for 17.29 for 290gb, which was plenty the stuff i dowdlaod.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link...I finally decided to get off my arse and jump on one of theses deals...

guess it is time to search google to figure out how to get it working :)
 
gorcorps

gorcorps

aka Brandon
Jul 18, 2004
30,739
454
126
hotel77 said:
not trying to thread crap, just wondering if this is really hot.

It seems like i'm missing why anyone would use this, instead of something like this?

http://www.newshosting.com/en/index.php?
Click to expand...

It's a pretty good deal. Because I didn't really know how I was going to use it I got in on a decent unlimited service. I've had it nearly 1 year now (merely a few days away now that I look at it) and I haven't used enough to justify unlimited at the price of the OP. I've spent as much in a year as you can get 2000GB for, and touched maybe half that. I do have another 1/2 year of retention time, but most of my stuff has been new so it wouldn't really matter. For most it'd be a good deal.
 
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imaheadcase

Diamond Member
May 9, 2005
3,850
7
76
That is a terrible terrible deal OP.

Go with supernews.com its only like $15 a month for full usenet speeds no caps on downloads.

Esp since supernews is one of the largest usenet providers, i've tried some of the smaller ones and everyone i've had problems from missing blocks or something.
 
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leeland

Diamond Member
Dec 12, 2000
3,659
0
76
I signed up just to get my feet wet basically with this...and learn how to get this up and running.

I tried to sign up and utilize nzbmatrix and upgrade to a VIP member for full utilization of their site but their payment system seems borked at the moment.

Can anyone recommend another easy to use site for finding nzb information?
 
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mikeford

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2001
5,671
160
106
I think newsbin has a integrated nzb function in its search, free during some trial period. Basically this is a service that keeps a database of all the titles (descriptions of content) for all the files saved on all the usenet servers (all servers generally have all the same files and vary only in length of time they keep them, retention). When you search via an indexing service it returns a NZB file that most usenet readers automatically open and download the targeted files. It frequently gets overloaded and poofs, but binsearch is free.

*** I say "files", but usenet is actually text, like a LONG tweet, but instead of 140 characters per message its something like 60k. Files are usually compressed or packaged with some common tool like zip, then a usenet specific program converts the 8 bit binary file into 6 bit text, adds various error correction and splits it up into hundreds, maybe thousands of text messages. At the NBZ level all that is hidden, you pick a file and the usenet program fetches all the text messages and decodes them.
 
gorcorps

gorcorps

aka Brandon
Jul 18, 2004
30,739
454
126
Spelvin said:
I use http://www.binsearch.info/ to find the files I want then use
Grabit http://www.shemes.com/ to download the parts which then
Automatically get run through the parity check using QuickPar http://www.quickpar.org.uk/
and then finally unRared using the WinRar http://www.win-rar.com/download.html

One search and a click and a bit later you have your full file.
Click to expand...

That sounds overly complicated for the software that exists these days. SABnzbd replaces your last 3 all on its own. Reads the nzb files, automatically does the check, and automatically unrars the file. You can set it up to keep the rars after it's done or to delete them.
 
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Binky

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,046
4
81
Newsgroupdirect has a deal today for $40 for 1TB. TODAY ONLY.

Astraweb = $50/TB
Thecube = $50/TB
NGD = $100/TB, but often on "sale" for $50, today on sale for $40/TB

All are great deals if you don't download like a maniac. At $50/TB you're paying $0.05 per GB and at $40 you're paying $0.04/TB. Do the math against your unlimited plan see what makes sense for you.

Terms to search for on your own:
Sabnzbd
Couch potato
Sickbeard
 
ponyo

ponyo

Lifer
Feb 14, 2002
19,688
2,811
126
Binky said:
Newsgroupdirect has a deal today for $40 for 1TB. TODAY ONLY.

Astraweb = $50/TB
Thecube = $50/TB
NGD = $100/TB, but often on "sale" for $50, today on sale for $40/TB

All are great deals if you don't download like a maniac. At $50/TB you're paying $0.05 per GB and at $40 you're paying $0.04/TB. Do the math against your unlimited plan see what makes sense for you.

Terms to search for on your own:
Sabnzbd
Couch potato
Sickbeard
Click to expand...

Which company is considered the best? I used usenet back in the 90s while in college. Haven't used it since.
 
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Binky

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,046
4
81
Astraweb is probably the best for completeness of posts, but NGD is much cheaper since you get 1.1TB for $40.

Astraweb and cube also allow you to share the connection (two connections from different IP's). I don't think NGD allows that.
 
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mikeford

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2001
5,671
160
106
Funny the hard drives to store are more expensive than the download. Sort of takes the fun out of hoarding tons of stuff you never watch or listen to but "have".
 
QueBert

QueBert

Lifer
Jan 6, 2002
22,946
1,138
126
imaheadcase said:
That is a terrible terrible deal OP.

Go with supernews.com its only like $15 a month for full usenet speeds no caps on downloads.

Esp since supernews is one of the largest usenet providers, i've tried some of the smaller ones and everyone i've had problems from missing blocks or something.
Click to expand...

Pre Paid blocks are much cheaper if you don't download much. A few years back I paid $20 for a 10gb account. It took me 9 months to use it up, so I wound up paying slightly over $2 a month. Supernews is a great deal if you mass download, but OP said he downloads 20 gigs a month. So 500 gigs for $50 is a SMOKING DEAL for him. If you think him paying $15 a month simply because it's unlimited, i don't know what to tell you.
 
gorcorps

gorcorps

aka Brandon
Jul 18, 2004
30,739
454
126
imaheadcase said:
That is a terrible terrible deal OP.

Go with supernews.com its only like $15 a month for full usenet speeds no caps on downloads.

Esp since supernews is one of the largest usenet providers, i've tried some of the smaller ones and everyone i've had problems from missing blocks or something.
Click to expand...

15/mo for unlimited is a terrible deal... Not sure what you're getting at. The OP is much better for the vast majority of people.
 
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imaheadcase

Diamond Member
May 9, 2005
3,850
7
76
QueBert said:
Pre Paid blocks are much cheaper if you don't download much. A few years back I paid $20 for a 10gb account. It took me 9 months to use it up, so I wound up paying slightly over $2 a month. Supernews is a great deal if you mass download, but OP said he downloads 20 gigs a month. So 500 gigs for $50 is a SMOKING DEAL for him. If you think him paying $15 a month simply because it's unlimited, i don't know what to tell you.
Click to expand...


Umm, how is $20 for 10gb "better" than $15 for UNLIMITED? Again, the OP said $50 for 500gigs..vs the $15 for unlimited i said. In fact if you sign up for 6 months in advange it puts it down to $12 a month.

You are not doing some simple math.

You simply don't "download not much" with newsgroups. A typical HD movie is 4-12gigs, HD Tv show is 1.6gigs, etc. I average about 200gigs a month.
 
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ponyo

ponyo

Lifer
Feb 14, 2002
19,688
2,811
126
imaheadcase said:
Umm, how is $20 for 10gb "better" than $15 for UNLIMITED? Again, the OP said $50 for 500gigs..vs the $15 for unlimited i said. In fact if you sign up for 6 months in advange it puts it down to $12 a month.

You are not doing some simple math.

You simply don't "download not much" with newsgroups. A typical HD movie is 4-12gigs, HD Tv show is 1.6gigs, etc. I average about 200gigs a month.
Click to expand...

:D It's $50 for 1TB, not 500gb. You said you average 200gb per month. Well, you just proved it would be cheaper for you to get the 1TB/$50 deal than the monthly. 1TB should last you 5 months based on your usage. 5 months x your discounted $12 a month is $60. At $15 a month, your looking at $75 so you can download your 1TB. Looks like your paying 20-50% higher to do the monthly instead of the 1TB blocks.
 
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Binky

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,046
4
81
imaheadcase said:
Umm, how is $20 for 10gb "better" than $15 for UNLIMITED? Again, the OP said $50 for 500gigs..vs the $15 for unlimited i said. In fact if you sign up for 6 months in advange it puts it down to $12 a month.

You are not doing some simple math.

You simply don't "download not much" with newsgroups. A typical HD movie is 4-12gigs, HD Tv show is 1.6gigs, etc. I average about 200gigs a month.
Click to expand...

200 gigs per month at the $50/TB level is $10 per month, and at the $40/TB level its $8 per month. Who's bad at math?

Here, I'll spell it out for you:

$50 / 1,000 = $0.05 x 200 = $10
$40 / 1,000 = $0.04 x 200 = $8
 
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