New user - struggling to get connected - please help!

[camel]

Hi All,

Today I have taken the plunge into newsgroups!! 

I have joined up with newshosting, and installed Alt.Binz.

However, I am struggling to get connected. I have set up Alt.Binz as instructed in the user guide, I have tried every port option as advised by newshosting (23, 25, 80, 3128 and of course 119), turned off my windows firewall, and breifly my linksys router's firewall. but I still cannot connect

I am running v0.26.8, on Windows Vista.

My ISP is plusnet.

I figure I must be missing something obvious, but I cannot see it. Any advice? I have logging on, but it doesn;t really offer any help.

Thanks in advance guys.

[Hecks]

It's 99% likely that one of these is incorrectly typed in Setup > Servers:

server address
username
password

Make sure you check these details again wth Newshosting.  You can also try pinging the server to see if you're getting any response at all.

[freeop]

Like Hecks said, it is probably your Username or Password.

I use Newshosting and have no problems at all. I have a router and all the other things you mentioned, except vista, and there is no configuring your router or anything else.

Just make sure you have the correct username and password, given by Newshosting and you should be ok.

BTW, what does your logs say when you try to connect? Always keep your logs, that way you can see a lot more information and if needed, post a portion of your logs here for help.

Let us know...

[cr4zyfr4g]

I am running v0.26.8, on Windows Vista.

How can you run 0.26.8 without being a contributor?

[freeop]

oops, I didn't even notice that.

That's an excellent question. That may be the over all problem in the first place.

I hate when people come here and try to ask questions on "Cracked" versions of software. 

[Gompy]

I hate when people come here and try to ask questions on "Cracked" versions of software. 

Maybe it isn't .
When using one of the free builds, clicking on the label "Version?", they get the version number.
I think the OP is a bit confused in this.
Some topics in the Dutch forum contains the same matter.

Regards, Gompy

[camel]

Allright geezers!

I got the version name as described above - I think I am running 0.25.0.

Also, I got the connection sorted - my ISP is sh*te....and I am apparently on a tarriff that allows no usenet traffic!

All sorted now....but think I may have to switch ISP in the long run.

Now....back to figuring out how I get PAR2 sorted to repair my DVD! 

[TheEvilDead]

Also, I got the connection sorted - my ISP is sh*te....and I am apparently on a tarriff that allows no usenet traffic!

I don't believe Newshosting offers SSL connections.

Giganews do however, as the traffic is encrypted in theory this should allow you to use usenet as Plusnet should not be able to tell what you are downloading.

They also offer a free 3 day trial (if you take this up read the terms and conditions to ensure the trial does not become permanent) to see if you can download from the newsgroups using SSL.  It is a little more expensive but could solve your problems.

If you do go down this route let us know how you get on.

TheEvilDead

[g0dfr4g]

Hi Camel,

did you use the installer (.exe) file, or did you use the .zip file that you unpacked yourself?

I also tried this under Vista and saw that it needs to be exactly: C:\Program Files\altbinz <--- altbinz lowercase
Otherwise the program would run, but indeed the connection to any newsserver was impossible.
I guess this is hardcoded somewhere in the program.

Good luck!

[Zeikzeil]

Hi Camel,

did you use the installer (.exe) file, or did you use the .zip file that you unpacked yourself?

I also tried this under Vista and saw that it needs to be exactly: C:\Program Files\altbinz <--- altbinz lowercase
Otherwise the program would run, but indeed the connection to any newsserver was impossible.
I guess this is hardcoded somewhere in the program.

Good luck!

This issue has been fixed in newer builds anyway. I'm running Vista x64, the path I'm using is C:\Program Files (x86)\AltBinz