What about the last few ISPs that offer free Usenet access? (This list is organised by country of the provider.) Don’t forget that you have to be a customer of the ISP in order to benefit from free access.
ISP will provide some sort of Usenet access, very limited. If you really want to get the best of Usenet access the right thing to do is purchase an account with Usenet providers who sell accounts
Looking for a Premium Usenet access?
Looking for a cheap Usenet service?
UsenetServer: Usenetserver is the better way to get cheap Unlimited Usenet-Only. UsenetServer is the number ONE in price: One year at only $95.40 (Comes to $7.95 a month!). Just Usenet and Cheap
Looking for a backup block account?
Usenet-News: Usenet-News specialises in block accounts. Buy a block account from Usenet-News to act as a backup to your ISP news server. Usenet-News is an excellent choice (Non expiring, 60 connections, Free SSL, Connect simultaneously from different IPs) as it offers block accounts that do not expire. The King Of Newsgroup Block Accounts
Below is a list of ISPs (Internet Service Providers) which have Usenet Binaries capabilities (Not all ISPs run news servers.) - This list would benefit from your comments and experience. Help us complete or update it and write to us at: gsorel2006[at]yahoo.fr
US | Australia | Canada | UK | The Netherlands | France | Belgium
United States
Several ISP including AOL, Cox, AT&T, Comcoast, Time Warner and Verizon have discontinued their newsgroup services.
Only a few still provide a free usenet access (Charter - Earthlink - Insight - Knology - Optimum - Qwest - Speakeasy - Windstream)
CHARTER: Charter use HighWinds to provide Usenet access
Login Info: Charter Usenet authenticates users by their IP address
Port: 119
Connections: 2
SSL: No
Retention: ?
Speed: 384k per connection
Monthly Quota: ?
Server: news.charter.net
EARTHLINK: Outsourced to SuperNews
Login Info: All connections to the news servers require authentication. You must log in with your entire email address (e.g. johndoe@earthlink.net). Remember, your email address and password are case sensitive
Port: 119
Connections: 4
SSL: No
Retention: 7 days
Speed: Modem Limit
Monthly Quota: The limit is 5GB during the last 30 days. Please note that "Headers" and articles count towards the limit
Servers: nntp.earthlink.net, news.west.earthlink.net and news.east.earthlink.net
INSIGHT: The provided access is through Giganews
Login Info: None (leave blank)
Port: 119
Connections: 6
SSL: No
Retention: ~ 200 days binary retention
Speed: Max 1.5mbit/s
Monthly Quota: 30GB of Usenet access per month
Server: netnews.insightbb.com
KNOLOGY: They use Usenetserver to provide their usenet service
Login Info: You must have a IP address that belongs to knology to use knology's newsgroup service
Port: 119
Connections: 6
SSL: No
Retention: ~ 60 days binary retention
Speed: Modem Limit
Monthly Quota: Unlimited
Server: news.knology.net
OPTIMUM ONLINE (Cablevision): Optimum use HighWinds to provide Usenet access
Login Info: You can only connect to the Optimum Online news server from within the Optimum Online network
Port: 119
Connections: 2
SSL: No
Retention: The retention time for articles on the news server is 20-25 days for binaries
Speed: Modem Limit
Monthly Quota: Unlimited
Server: news.optonline.net
QWEST: Own infrastructure ?
Login Info: Qwest.net static IP, plus your Qwest.net email username & password for access
Port: 119
Connections: 2
SSL: No
Retention: 18 - 30 days for binaries
Speed: Modem Limit
Monthly Quota: None
Server: news.qwest.net
SPEAKEASY: Speakeasy use Giganews to provide Usenet access
Login Info: Authentication is based on Speakeasy username (in the username@speakeasy.net) format, and your news password
Port: 119
Connections: 2
SSL: No
Retention: ?
Speed: Modem Limit
Monthly Quota: Each customer only receives 1GB of download quota per month. A larger quota can be purchased for an additional fee
Server: news.speakeasy.net
WINDSTREAM: They use Usenetserver to provide their usenet service
Login Info: No username/password needed
Port: 119
Connections: 6
SSL: No
Retention: 30 days
Speed: Modem Limit
Monthly Quota: None
Server: news.windstream.net
Australia
The Australian ISP's that offers an Usenet Service for their users are Escapenet, Netspace, Adam Internet, Internode and Superned
ESCAPENET: Escapenet's NNTP service is provided by AstraWeb
Login Info: ISP account info
Port: 119
Connections: 20
SSL: No
Retention: Full Astraweb retention ?
Speed: Modem Limit
Monthly Quota: ISP service quota
Server: news.esc.net.au
NETSPACE: Netspace's Usenet supplied via Giganews
Login Info: ISP account info - The Netspace Usenet Service is available to Netspace Dial-Up, ADSL and ADSL2+ customers
Port: 119
Connections: 10
SSL: No
Retention: 200 days
Speed: Modem Limit
Monthly Quota: ISP service quota
Server: news.netspace.net.au
ADAM: Adam use Giganews to provide Usenet access
User: username@adam.com.au
Pass: your Adam password
Port: 119
Connections: 5
SSL: No
Retention: ?
Speed: Modem Limit
Monthly Quota: 20 GB of data transferred is provided at no cost and 100 GB is available by upgrading to silver access at a cost of $6.50/mth. Newsgroups downloads count towards your monthly download quota on all plans
Server: news.adam.com.au
INTERNODE: The Node Usenet service is Astraweb
Login Info: The Usenet server requires no password and only works from an Internode internet service
Port: 119
Connections: 8
SSL: No
Retention: Retention tracks that of Astraweb
Speed: Modem Limit
Monthly Quota: ISP service quota
Server: news.internode.on.net
SUPERNERD: Access to the SuperNerd Usenet server is free of monthly access charges
Login Info: SuperNerd Usenet authenticates users by their IP address and as such there is no need to supply a username or password in the news reader software
Port: 119
Connections: ?
SSL: No
Retention: 120 days ?
Speed: Modem Limit
Monthly Quota: Usage on the SuperNerd Usenet service will be counted towards your download allowance
Server: news.supernerd.com.au
Canada
Rogers has decided to stop offering access to USENET. But Cogeco, Bell, Nexicom, Teksavyy, Shaw still provide one.
COGECO: Cogeco use HighWinds to provide Usenet access
Login Info: No login or password are required. Remember that this service is only available through the Cogeco network
Port: 119
Connections: ?
SSL: No
Retention: 60 days on popular newsgroups, 30 and under on the non-popular ones. 411 day old binary ?
Speed: Modem Limit
Monthly Quota: ISP service quota
Server: news.cogeco.ca
BELL: Bell has arranged a free 1GB/month newsgroup account with Newshosting for all customers. This is actually better than the old Bell newsgroup servers since Sympatico didn't carry any binaries while Newshosting does
Login Info: Service requires a Username and Password to be configured within your News client. This Username & Password is provided by Newshosting when you activate your account
Ports: 119 - 563 (SSL)
Connections: 2
SSL: Yes
Retention:
?
Speed: Per Stream Bandwidth Limit - 256 kbps
Monthly Quota: 1 GB (Headers count toward Byte Cap: Yes)
Server: news.bell.newshosting.com
NEXICOM: Nexicom provide free Giganews to all their customers
Login Info: ISP account info
Port: 119
Connections: ?
SSL: ?
Retention: Full Giganews retention ?
Speed: Modem Limit
Monthly Quota: Unlimited bandwidth
Server: news.nexicom.net
TEKSAVYY: TEKSAVYY use HighWinds to provide Usenet access
Login Info: There's no additional username or password required
Port: 119
Connections: 3
SSL: No
Retention: 260 days ? up to 600 days sometimes ?
Speed: ?
Monthly Quota: ?
Server: news2.teksavvy.com
SHAW: Shaw use HighWinds to provide Usenet access
Login Info: There's no additional username or password required
Port: 119
Connections: 5
SSL: No
Retention: 60 days
Speed: 600KBs ?
Monthly Quota: ISP service quota
Server: news.shawcable.net
United Kingdom
Choosing UK ISP newsgroup server - BT - Demon - Eclipse - Plus - Virginmedia
BT Internet 's Usenet Features
BT Broadband: BT outsource the news service to Giganews
Login Info: userID/password required
Port: 119
Connections: 3 simultaneous connections per IP
SSL: No
Retention: Full Giganews retention ?
Speed: Limited to around 200KB/sec
Monthly Quota: ?
Server: news.btinternet.com
DEMON: Demon use HighWinds to provide Usenet access
Login Info: No login or password are required. Remember that this service is only available through the Demon network
Port: 119
Connections: ?
SSL: No
Retention: Text-only newsgroups are available with retention time of at least 365 days - Binary newsgroups (eg pictures etc) are carried with retention time of 60 days
Speed: Modem limit
Monthly Quota: ?
Server: news.demon.co.uk
ECLIPSE: News services are supplied through Giganews Giganews
Login Info: No username or password required to authenticate
Port: 119
Connections: Maximum of 2 connections per host
SSL: No
Retention: Full Giganews retention ?
Speed: 128kbps speed limit
Monthly Quota: ?
Server: news.eclipse.co.uk
PLUS.NET: Usenet services are supplied through Giganews Giganews
Login Info: No username or password required to authenticate
Port: 119
Connections: ?
SSL: No
Retention: Full Giganews retention ?
Speed: ?
Monthly Quota: ?
Server: usenet.plus.net
VIRGINMEDIA 's Usenet Features
VIRGINMEDIA: news.virginmedia.com traces to HighWinds' Amsterdam usenet server
Login Info: No username or password needed, just use news.virginmedia.com as the server and connect
Port: 119
Connections: 7
SSL: No
Retention: 7 day retention
Speed: Modem Limit
Monthly Quota: ISP service quota
Server: news.virginmedia.com
Netherlands
Dutch ISP Usenet outsourcing - Ziggo - Hetnet - KPN - Online - Tele2 - X4all - Onsbrabantnet - Zeelandnet - Caiway
ZIGGO: Own News Servers ?
Login Info: Ziggo email username & password for access
Port: 119
Connections: 4 simultaneous connections per IP
SSL: No
Retention: Binary newsgroups (eg pictures etc) are carried with retention time of 30 days
Speed: Modem limit
Monthly Quota: ISP service quota (10 - 50 - 100 or Unlimited)
Servers:
@ Quicknet.nl: news.quicknet.nl
@ Multiweb.nl: news.quicknet.nl
@ Casema.nl: news.casema.nl
@ Home.nl: news.home.nl
@ Ziggo.nl: news.ziggo.nl
HET NET: Own News Servers ?
Login Info: Authenticates users by their IP address
Port: 119
Connections: ?
SSL: No
Retention: Up to 900 days
Speed: Modem limit
Monthly Quota: ?
Servers: news.hetnet.nl & binaries.news.hetnet.nl
KPN: Own News Servers ?
Login Info: Authenticates users by their IP address
Port: 119
Connections: 3
SSL: No
Retention: + - 20 days
Speed: No
Monthly Quota: No
Servers: news.kpn.nl - news.kpnplanet.nl - nova.planet.nl
ONLINE.NL: Own News Servers ?
Login Info: Authenticates users by their IP address
Port: 119
Connections: ?
SSL: No
Retention: + - 2 days
Speed: ?
Monthly Quota: ?
Servers: news.online.nl - news.euronet.nl
TELE2: TELE2 traces to HighWinds' Amsterdam usenet server
Login Info: Authenticates users by their IP address
Port: 119
Connections: ?
SSL: No
Retention: 50 day retention ?
Speed: 60kb/s
Monthly Quota: ISP service quota
Server: news.tele2.nl
X4ALL: X4ALL have their own News Servers
Login Info: Authenticates users by their IP address
Port: 119
Connections: 3
SSL: No
Retention: + - 20 days retention
Speed:150 ko/s
Monthly Quota: ISP service quota
Servers: news.xs4all.nl - newsbin.cistron.nl - newszilla.xs4all.nl (experimental IPV6 Usenet access since November 2000 !!!)
ONSBRABANTNET 's Usenet Features
ONSBRABANTNET: onsbrabantnet use XLned to provide Usenet access
Login Info: All connections to the news servers require authentication. You must log in with your entire email address. Remember, your email address and password are case sensitive
Port: 119
Connections: 4
SSL: No
Retention: 60 days retention
Speed: 2000 kbps
Monthly Quota: No
Server: news.onsbrabantnet.nl
ZEELANDNET: Zeelandnet use HighWinds to provide Usenet access
Login Info: All connections to the news servers require authentication. You must log in with your entire email address (@zeelandnet). Remember, your email address and password are case sensitive
Port: 119
Connections: 3
SSL: No
Retention: ?
Speed: Modem Limit
Monthly Quota: 50GB
Server: highwinds.zeelandnet.nl
CAIWAY: Caiway use News-Service to provide Usenet access
Login Info: All connections to the news servers require authentication. You must log in with your entire email address (@caiway.nl). Remember, your email address and password are case sensitive
Port: 119
Connections: 8
SSL: No
Retention: 200 days retention
Speed: Modem Limit
Monthly Quota: No
Servers: news.caiway.nl - news.kabelfoon.nl - caiw2.news-service.com - vip1.news-service.com
Price: 5€/month
France
The only French ISP's that offers a fully working and free Premium (Binaries and Text) Usenet Service for their users is Free. Free also run their own newsgroup servers. French Free customers are free to use that Usenet access
FREE: Free have their own News Servers
Login Info: The Usenet server requires no password and only works from Free internet service
Port: 119
Connections: 4
SSL: No
Retention: 15 days
Speed: Modem Limit
Groups: You're not seeing every available newsgroup. Free remove some alt.binaries newgroups from its newsgroup service
Monthly Quota: Unlimited Download
Servers: news.free.fr (Alternate servers: news1-2.proxad.net // news2-2.proxad.net // news1-4.proxad.net // news2-4.proxad.net // news3-4.proxad.net // news4-4.proxad.net)
Belgium
Belgian ISP with Usenet Binaries - Dommel - Edpnet - Telenet
DOMMEL: Dommel outsource the news service to HighWinds
Login Info: The Usenet server requires no password and only works from Dommel internet service
Port: 119
Connections: ?
SSL: No
Retention: 1000 days
Speed: Modem Limit
Monthly Quota: 200 gb download volume per month or Unlimited download volume per month
Server: news.dommel.be
EDPNET: EDPNET outsource the news service to Giganews
Login Info: username@edpnet (identical to the one for the internet connection, but lower case) + password
Port: 119
Connections: 3
SSL: No
Retention: ?
Speed: Modem limit
Monthly Quota: 10 GB
Server: news.edpnet.be
TELENET: Use HighWinds to provide Usenet access
Login Info: The Usenet server requires no password and only works from Telenet internet service
Port: 119
Connections: ?
SSL: No
Retention: 21 days
Speed: Modem Limit
Groups: You're not seeing every available newsgroup
Monthly Quota: ?
Server: newsgroups.telenet.be & newsgroups.telenet-ops.be