If you’d like more complete access to the files and articles on Usenet, I suggest using multiple Usenet providers from different Usenet backbones. With hundreds of Usenet providers and resellers around the world, it is difficult to discern which providers are to the various backbones. I have tried to simplify things in this article.
I recommend getting a primary provider that:
- Is close to your location
- Has a long retention time for articles and files (2500 or more days)
In regards to location, I recommend:
- Using a provider with US servers if you live in North America or South America or Australia
- Using a provider with European servers if you live in Europe or Asia
For a secondary or backup provider, you want a provider which is a different backbone than your primary provider. This secondary account can be a block account or an unlimited downloading account, depending on how much you download.
Here are all the Usenet backbones available:
US & European Usenet Backbone 1 — Omicron (HW Media)
- /US & European-based servers
- 3700+ days of retention
- Unlimited & block accounts
- Follows DMCA
- Recommended providers: NewsDemon (full details here), NewsHosting (full details here), UsenetServer, Easynews
- Other providers: Newsgroup Ninja, Astraweb, BlockNews, Frugal Usenet, NewsgroupDirect, ThunderNews
US and European Usenet Backbone 2 – Giganews
- US & European-based servers
- 1100+ days of retention
- Offers accounts with unlimited downloads (no block accounts)
- Follows DMCA
- Providers: Giganews, Supernews
US-Only Usenet Backbone 1 – UsenetExpress
- hybrid retention – 365+ days primary/1100+ days secondary via Abavia
- Unlimited & block accounts
- Follows DMCA
- Providers: UsenetExpress (full details here)
US-Only Usenet Backbone 2 – Altopia
- 20+ days of retention
- Offers accounts with unlimited downloading (no block accounts)
- Follows DMCA
- Providers: Altopia
European-Only Usenet Backbone 1 – Omicron (Eweka)
- 3700+ days of retention
- Offers accounts with unlimited downloading (no block accounts)
- Follows NTD
- Recommended provider: Eweka (full details here)
European-Only Usenet Backbone 2 – Omicron (Tweaknews)
- 3200+ days of retention
- Offers accounts with unlimited downloads (no block accounts)
- Follows NTD
- Recommended provider: Tweaknews (full details here)
European-Only Usenet Backbone 3: Omicron (XLned)
- 3000+ days of retention
- Offers accounts with unlimited downloading (no block accounts)
- Follows DMCA
- Recommended providers: XLned (full details here)
- Other providers: SunnyUsenet, UsenetBucket
European-Only Usenet Backbone 4 – Usenet.Farm
- hybrid retention – 70 days primary/1000+ days secondary
- Unlimited & block accounts
- Follows NTD for primary retention, DMCA for secondary retention via Abavia
- Recommended provider: Usenet.Farm (full details here)
European-Only Usenet Backbone 5 – Abavia
- 1100+ days of retention
- Unlimited & block accounts
- Follows DMCA
- Recommended providers: XS News (full details here)
- Other providers: XS Usenet, Bulknews, Cheapnews
European-Only Usenet Backbone 6 – ViperNews
- 30+ days of retention
- Offers accounts with unlimited downloading (no block accounts)
- Follows NTD
- Provider: ViperNews
