SNET Internet : Support : Newsgroups

On August 28, 2001, your newsgroup server, which is currently hosted by SNET Internet Services, will begin a transition to Prodigy. To continue using Usenet Newsgroups after the final transition date of September 30, you must update your newsgroup software with new server information.

In addition, after evaluating possible copyright infringement issues, newsgroup usage and the cost of providing newsgroup access, we will no longer offer some alt.binary newsgroups. For a list of alt.binaries that will no longer be offered, please refer to this FAQ page. If you have newsgroup questions, or if there is a newsgroup you'd like added, just post a message on prodigynet.help.tech.newsgroups.

The new newsgroup server is:

news.snet.sbcglobal.net

You will need to change "news.snet.net" to "news.snet.sbcglobal.net" in your current settings, or set up a connection to the new server from scratch, depending on what software you use to access newsgroups. If you are subscribed to particular newsgroups, you may wish to make a note of them. You will have to resubscribe after downloading the new list of newsgroups from the new server.

Important: You will also need to change how you log in (authenticate). The server "news.snet.net" has required your SNET Username and Password. The new server "news.snet.sbcglobal.net" requires the addition of "@snet.net" to your Username -- so you will log in with your email address and password to the new news server.

Below are instructions for setting up access to the SNET Internet news server from scratch.

For those unfamiliar with Usenet newsgroups -- they are discussion groups that center around particular subjects. Subscribers may access newsgroups through Outlook Express, Netscape Communicator/Messenger or through third-party client software.

Usenet is a sprawling, lively and rancorous community that extends around the globe. Subscribers who are new to Usenet are urged to familiarize themselves with the etiquette of the Internet in general and newsgroups in particular. A good place to start is here.

Many newsgroups are known for having a high "noise to sound" ratio -- there can be a lot of extraneous messages and there is a great deal of unwanted commercial posting in the newsgroups. SNET does not filter or censor or review newsgroups. Subscribers who find Usenet incomprehensible or not worth the trouble may wish to explore Google's Usenet archive (used to be Deja News) a site that makes Usenet searchable and filters out much of the junk.