By Whosbest54
Provided in the wake of the loss of the Deja web based usenet interface for users of RMB, which was later replaced by Google Groups.
Use a news server and newsreader software. This requires access to a news server. Most ISPs provide their own news server, which should carry RMB. Advantages: Best interfaces, lots of flexibility and control, no dependence on others who need to maintain a web based interface. Disadvantages: Harder to set up and use, can't be easily used at different locations or computers than the one you have them set up on.
A very detailed FAQ on this sort of access is at:
http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/Lab/1131/ua.htm
You must get and setup the software by inputting such things as the address of the news server, your email address and your name. There are many many different newsreaders available, and many are free. Netscape includes a newsreader, as does Outlook Express, which comes with Internet Explorer.
For free PC/Windows newsreaders, I recommend Free Agent (the free version of Agent; an off line reader, e.g., will download headers and articles and then you can read them without having an active connection) and WinVN (on line reader, need an active connection) over the newsreaders that come with the browsers. However, the readers in the browsers aren't bad once you get used to them.
This site has a fair list of newsreaders with links to download them:
You can do this through the TCP/IP connection AOL gives you once signed on, the same way you can use a web browser outside of the AOL interface while signed on. AOL has dropped their own newsgroup server access through their client software.http://www.exit109.com/~jeremy/news/providers/providers.html
Lists of open or public free servers are maintained on the web by some people who care about usenet access. Unfortunately, these tend to come and go, and once they're no longer open, they tend to stay that way. Open servers may not allow posting. One of the best lists is at:
If you are looking for a reliable free text server that allows posting, check out the group alt.free.newsservers. The posters there can be knowledgeable about those types of servers. I found a free server there. Google carries that group:Use web based usenet access with a web browser just like browsing other web pages. Advantages: Easier to set up and use and can be accessed from any computer with a browser. Disadvantages: You're depending on others to provide the interface, and if they don't do the job or go out of business, you're out of luck, like all the Deja users who can't find other access now.
The best list of web based services I could find is on Google:
http://directory.google.com/Top/Computers/Usenet/Web_Based/
Google started offering a posting interface in May 2001. They
improved the service in 2005, with faster propagation of posts made
through them and faster appearance of posts made through other servers.
I've tried some of these; they all differ considerably in
their interface, completeness and ease of use.