I currently have an arr-stack setup on my home server with qBittorrent, which works relatively well. However, I mainly have two issues with it:

  1. There is very little content available on BitTorrent in my native language (Dutch), not even on private trackers afaik
  2. There are many torrents which take days to download, or even worse get stuck (hate it when that happens, especially if it’s at 99%)

This got me interested in Usenet.

As for point 1, I found an NZB indexer which seems to have a lot more Dutch content. I still have some questions, however.

  1. I understand that apart from having access to indexers I’ll also need a Usenet provider. How big are the differences between providers? I can find plans between €2 and €20 per month; does it matter that much which I take, apart from retention rate and download speed? Do all providers host all newsgroups?
  2. As for point 2, I understand that if content is on a provider’s servers, then you will be able to download it with whatever speed your provider gives you. How much content will I actually be able to find? Why isn’t content constantly taken down?
  3. Is using a VPN recommended with Usenet?
  • LazerDickMcCheese@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    21·
    4 days ago

    Preface: I don’t use Usenet

    1. I’ve heard its a federated network, but you’re paying for a subscription to a specific set of servers…as far as I understand.

    2. People have been migrating to Usenet for a long time on top of being a very old protocol, so probably quite a bit. Worth a quick shot, right? As I understand, rights holders try pretty often but they can’t really because the protocol breaks the data up so much that it can’t be discovered from the outside.

    3. Its not a requirement, but it doesn’t hurt. Many providers bundle a VPN.

    Hope that helps. I’ve never used it, but I always read posts about it and ask questions