Can someone explain Usenet to a long-time torrent-er? - eviltoast

I’m a pretty heavy torrent user, running a media server complete with sonarr/radarr for automatic downloads. I download a lot, and have multiple TBs of upload on various private trackers. I’ve been torrenting forever, but I’ve always wondered about usenet. Over and over on this, and other, forums I see people saying that usenet is way better - but why?

I understand what it is overall, but what makes it better than traditional torrenting? In my mind, it’s always just seemed like a different means to the same end. I pay for a VPN and torrent for “free”, or I pay for usenet access and download directly from there. As someone who’s “snobby” around the quality of the stuff I torrent, does usenet provide an advantage there?

Usenet fans, I’d love to hear what makes you love it! I’m always open to trying new things, and if It really is better I’d love to know why! (Plus, maybe what providers/tools etc you recommend).

  • Zoolander@lemmy.worldEnglish
    31·
    1 year ago

    A Usenet server will typically host the files and then delete them after a set period of time. Most servers won’t typically go less than 30 days and a few will go for months. It’s what makes the OP question more of a decision between wanting something as soon as possible with quick downloads vs wanting it any time outside of that initial period at whatever speed it’s available at.

    • theUnlikely@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      3·
      1 year ago

      If your provider is only retaining files for a few months, you really should switch. Most are over 2000 days retention, with many being over 5000. Eweka, for example, is 5050+ and NewsgroupDirect 3500+.

      • Zoolander@lemmy.worldEnglish
        11·
        1 year ago

        I have no need for that. My use case only needs them for a week tops so retention is not my main factor.

        • theUnlikely@sopuli.xyzEnglish
          21·
          1 year ago

          I see what you’re saying, and if that fits your use case, that’s great. The main point is offering information to the OP though. We don’t want them thinking Usenet is limited to only downloading the latest releases.

          It’s what makes the OP question more of a decision between wanting something as soon as possible with quick downloads vs wanting it any time outside of that initial period at whatever speed it’s available at.

          Since they’re asking about usenet vs torrenting, this might be interpreted as usenet not being useful for older stuff. This is simply not the case with the vast majority of providers, assuming access to a good indexer or two.

          • Zoolander@lemmy.worldEnglish
            11·
            1 year ago

            That’s fine but retention means that, at some point, those files will be removed even if that means it happens after a time. There’s not really a fear of that for torrents so long as everyone seeds as intended.