Using my isp's newsgroups to download from is taking ages. I have pipex extreme 512Mb broadband connection. Running windows Xp and using Agent as my reader. It only seems to download for about 20 seconds and then stops for about 80 seconds and then starts again. So only really downloading about 20% of the time. Is this down to Pipex newsgroups? It downloads constantly when retrieving the headers? Will it improve if I sign up to another newsgroup provider. Is there any other way to maximise my connection?

Cheers

Chris

I'm having a similar slow speed problem on my isp's ng's (provided by GigaNews) - I'm looking at changing to a paid account with someone else like Astranews or Usenetserver - around the $15 per month for unlimited d/l.

Generally ISP newsgroups suck esp binary, retention and completness are not good.

Better off paying $10-$50 depending on how much you plan to download and sign up to a commercial provider.

Pipex completeness ain't bad. The retention ain't great but I can live with it. Could I run another newsgroup reader at the same time to try and max out my connection?

Chris

I have had problems with the Pipex newsgroup for the last few days. Very slow and lots of timeout messages. Have now gone to astraweb.

Originally posted by jester3012
Could I run another newsgroup reader at the same time to try and max out my connection?

Chris

Yeh you can connect to more than one newsgroup server at a time no problem.

Sorry I meant run another reader to connect to pipex newsgroups. I.E. run Agent and Newsbin?

Cheers

Chris

I don't know anything about Pipex but if the downloads are that bad it would be worth trying another news reader first to make sure it's your ISP that's the problem, If you have the same problem with Newsbin you probably need a better news server, as already said you'll get more out of news groups with a premium news server.

Originally posted by jester3012
Sorry I meant run another reader to connect to pipex newsgroups. I.E. run Agent and Newsbin?

Cheers

Chris

Ahh right lol sorry - Not really cos Pipex will more than likely (99% sure) cap the amount of simultaneous connections you can make to their server - i.e mine limits me to just 2x - I think the norm may be 4x though, so you may aswell just max the connections in one newsreader.

Now using Newsbin and have two connections to pipex newsgroups running at once and now seems to be maxing out most of the time. Getting stuff down much quicker now.

Cheers Guys

Chris