1. Select a Usenet service provider like GigaNews. Before you can access Usenet groups, you will need to open an account allowing you to access a Usenet server. Your Internet service provider (ISP) may provide an account, or you can secure one through a third-party service like GigaNews. Some Usenet providers charge for access, which is commonly based on the amount of bandwidth allowed.
2. Download Usenet software. Accessing Usenet requires a Usenet reader, which accesses one of the many Usenet servers that maintain replicated lists of newsgroup contents. We recommend BinTube for binaries and Microsoft Outlook Explorer for message boards.
3. Install the software. This typically includes identifying where you would like to store any downloaded files and your Usenet group and article list. Note that with thousands of groups, any of which may contain thousands of articles, the amount of required storage space can be significant. Make sure you have enough space wherever you choose to install the software. See a video of how to set up BinTube and Outlook Express for Usenet Access.
4. Configure the software. Your Usenet service provider will supply a server name, user ID, and password, which you will need to enter into your Usenet reader’s configuration in order to access a Usenet server. See a video of how to set up BinTube and Outlook Express for Usenet Access.
5. Download Usenet groups. Before you can start browsing and searching through newsgroups, you will need to download the entire list of groups from the Usenet server. Because Usenet consists of thousands of groups, this process usually takes a few minutes.
6. Subscribe to groups. You will likely find some groups that are of particular interest to you, and your reader software will allow you to “subscribe” to them. This means that your reader will automatically download new articles, and you will have a list of subscribed groups for easy access.
7. Utilize Usenet resources. Now that you have all an updated list of groups and have selected groups of particular interest, you can access threaded discussions, contribute new articles, and download a wide variety of software. Remember that Usenet articles must be replicated to other Usenet servers, and so some time may pass before your contributions will appear.

Tagged With: downloaded files, getting on usenet, getting started with usenet, how to get started with usenet, how to usenet, reader software, set up outlook express and bintube, usenet get started, usenet getting started, usenet group, usenet providers, usenet reader, usenet servers, usenet service provider