# alt.binaries.pictures Access, HOW? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 6, 2004, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alt-binaries-pictures-access-how/232904 "2004-03-06T23:34:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![blasphmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@blasphmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blasphmer)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2004, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alt-binaries-pictures-access-how/232904/1 "2004-03-06T23:34:13Z")
Ok, so I was looking for Joan of Arcadia screencaps and heard about a bunch on alt.binaries.pictures.teen-starlets. However Google seems no use and I have no other clue HTH to get to the Usenet forums. Been a lot of years since I’ve archied, gophered, etc. Help this once proud nerd ascend the steps of all things geeklike. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2004, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alt-binaries-pictures-access-how/232904/2 "2004-03-06T23:40:39Z")
Does your ISP provide USENET/NEWSGROUPS access? That’s how most people access the groups, via their ISP. The information is probably with or near the info you used to configure your mail client. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2004, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alt-binaries-pictures-access-how/232904/3 "2004-03-07T00:23:10Z")
I suspect ISPs have gradually stopped providing news servers. I found one with google where you pay a small subscription fee and set it up within the newsreader of your choice (as with them all, duh) it’s at home and I’m at work, so I can’t remember the name, but a search on google for ’ binary news servers’ should do you. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2004, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alt-binaries-pictures-access-how/232904/4 "2004-03-07T01:12:37Z")
I use [nntpservers.com](http://nntpservers.com) for Usenet access (1 GB/day for around $5 a month) and I use Mozilla Thunderbird’s newsreader. If you only want Usenet access for downloading binary files, check out a program called NewsBin. It filters out the text posts, groups files together when they’re split across multiple posts, queues, downloads, and decodes the files you select. (Most newsreaders can decode and save binaries, but it usually takes more effort with the others.) ---
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2004, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alt-binaries-pictures-access-how/232904/5 "2004-03-07T03:18:33Z")
I use [http://www.teranews.com/](http://www.teranews.com/), which has a one-time charge of four dollars. You only get 50mb a day - but that’d be more than plenty for downloading pictures, I’d suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2004, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alt-binaries-pictures-access-how/232904/6 "2004-03-07T03:22:41Z")
Before he/she spends money on access to another news server, **blasphmer** should make sure he isn’t already getting access to one via his ISP. My ISP provides one, and I doubt it’s the only one left that does. ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2004, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alt-binaries-pictures-access-how/232904/7 "2004-03-07T04:51:40Z")
Definitely check with your ISP to find out if they provide Usenet access. I’d recommend Forte FreeAgent as a free newsgroup browser.