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:
- There is very little content available on BitTorrent in my native language (Dutch), not even on private trackers afaik
- 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.
- 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?
- 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?
- Is using a VPN recommended with Usenet?
I am no expert but I learned enough to set it up with my *arr stack and it’s my primary ship for sailing the seas. My use case is English language popular content. So YMMV.
Search for the Usenet backbone map or usenet provider map. You will see that there are only a handful of companies providing different “backbones”. Content may be different on different backbones and the copyright takedown notices may be different (DMCA or NTD).
I pay for an unlimited subscription from a provider on one backbone and purchased a couple of 500gb blocks (on sale) on another backbone. (A block is a one-time fee that allows me to download a specified amount of data, from a provider, and they don’t expire).
My understanding is that content on Usenet is broken into multiple parts and the file names are obfuscated, making it more difficult to take down. If they are taken down, it might only be a few parts. Your download client can be configured to download the missing parts from multiple servers (in my case the blocks).
I don’t recall finding something in my indexers that wouldn’t download because of takedowns.
My recommendation would be to try it with blocks or the cheap €2 providers to see if you are happy. If you struggle to find content branch out.
I don’t use VPN with Usenet. I don’t want to bottleneck those sweet 500/600 Mbps download speeds. Never had an issue. Edit: because I setup the SSL servers)
100% agree with all of this.
Only thing to add is occasionally you can find coupons/deals on providers and indexers. Lots around November for black friday and a handful of indexers have lifetime plans.
Oh yeah like that one that does a percentage discount based on the daily high temperature in their home city.