Loading...We’ve all been there, waiting for hours while a file finishes downloading from the Internet. The little green bar of progress slowly crawling its way toward completion.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. There is a way for you to download at speeds as fast as your Internet provider will allow.
And that way is Usenet.
Usenet is really the old man of the Internet. Users were uploading and downloading binary files from Usenet long before the World Wide Web even existed.
In recent years the amount of data available on Usenet has skyrocketed making it possible for you to find almost anything you are looking for.
And downloading with Usenet can have some distinct advantages over other file downloading technologies.
When you are looking for a Usenet provider there are 3 important factors to consider.
#1 – How Long is the Binary Retention Time?
Files on Usenet are called “binaries” or “binary files”. Binary retention time refers to how long a file is stored on the Usenet server before it is deleted. Different Usenet providers offer different retention times.
For example, if you are looking for a file that was uploaded 350 days ago, but your Usenet server only has a retention time of 300 days, you won’t be able to find it. However, if your friend’s server has a retention time of 400 days, then he would be able to find it.
Obviously, the longer the retention period, the better it is for you.
Among the top providers, retention rates have been steadily climbing for years, and all of them recently passed 1,000 days of binary retention with text retention at 1,500 days or more.
#2 – What Security is Provided?
Unlike other methods, with Usenet, you never have to upload anything to the server. When you go to download a file, you are making a direct connection to the Usenet server.
Many providers will offer you the ability to encrypt your connection. An encrypted connection keeps the interaction between you and the server private. This means nobody can peek into your connection and see what you are doing.
Make sure to check if this is included in the normal price or if they charge extra for it.
In addition to encrypted connections, some providers will also not keep any server logs. This means there will be no record of what is downloaded from the server.
#3 – Is There a Free Trial Period?
Try before you buy is a great way to see if a potential Usenet provider is going to meet your needs in the long run. You should check around for providers that offer a free Usenet trial.
The details of the free trial will vary from provider to provider.
Make sure that you have full access to the service and not access that is restricted.
By taking advantage of the free trial period you can test out a number of different Usenet services and find out which one is going to work best for you.
Usenet is a powerful platform for internet downloads. Keep these points in mind when choosing a Usenet service provider and you’ll soon be experiencing downloads in a whole new way.