Block account providers - Astraweb and Usenet-news

[Lukian]

For those of us suffering from third world broadband in the first world, here's some information on block providers. I usually buy in qtys of 90-100G which lasts me a year, I'm on an 8mbit nternet plan with 20GB/month download quota which costs me AUD$50/mth.

Astraweb - http://news.astraweb.com/
120 days retention, 20-50 connection limit

 Unlimited   $10/Month
 Unlimited DSL   $15/Month
 Unlimited DSL 3   $39/3 Months
 25 GB    $10
 90 GB    $25

Review: Excellent quality provider. Always full speed. Great retention for a low cost provider.


Usenet-News - http://usenet-news.net/
70-100 days retention, 20 connection limit (sometimes reduced to 10)

2 GB    $ 2.00   1.00 USD/GB
5 GB   $ 3.00    0.60 USD/GB
10 GB   $ 5.00    0.50 USD/GB
20 GB   $ 8.00    0.40 USD/GB
30 GB   $ 10.00   0.33 USD/GB
50 GB   $ 15.00    0.30 USD/GB
100 GB   $ 24.00    0.24 USD/GB
200 GB   $ 46.00    0.23 USD/GB
300 GB   $ 66.00    0.22 USD/GB

Review: Can be slow at peak times, but a good low cost provider and maxes an 8mbit connection most of the time.

[IHaveRum]

Usenet-News censors, so be aware of that.

you get access to a limited newsgroups list, (NO adult-oriented newsgroups!)

I don't really mind missing the adult groups, but "limited" isn't all too defined.

NewsgroupDirect also sells block accounts, but I think they censor as well (or well my mate says they do).

[pilotsnipes]

Enough of your mis-information 

http://usenet-news.net/index1.php?url=faq

Q: Which payment options do you offer to buy quota Blocks?
A: The current options are to buy blocks using a Credit Card, (via CCDeb), payment via PayPal, or via Moneybookers.
Please note that when buying quota blocks via PayPal, you get access to a limited newsgroups list, (NO adult-oriented newsgroups!), due to PayPals regulations.
For users without Credit Card who want to access adult newsgroups we recommend Moneybookers, which you can fund from a bank account almost anywhere in the world.

That's clear fair and unambiguous.

At least be accurate when you state things of fact. Having used usenet-news.net for 2 years (with a credit card) NOTHING has ever been censored.

[IHaveRum]

I feel like an idiot now. Didn't read it to clearly, only read that and alarm bells went off.

[earthcrisis]

Astraweb Special

http://www.news.astraweb.com/specials/kleverig-11.html

no Speed Limit
no Download Limit
157Days Retention (soon more)
11$/month

[vhanymick]

yes i take this special offer and its very good

[al3x]

Did you guys join Astraweb with Paypal? I can't sign up.
Paypal wants me to add a credit card first. 

I talked to Astraweb support and they confirmed I didn't need a credit card to sign up.
Money's on the account, so that can't be the reason...

Hmm

[vhanymick]

when i take this provider he dont support paypal i thinks its new

[al3x]

Nevermind, got it working now.
Had to get myself a credit card as Paypal doesn't accept subscriptions without one in Germany

Paypal is strange

[domdom]

Considering Astraweb since Hitnews price has seriously gone up and it is always worth trying these providers.
Has anyone consistently used Astraweb and how is it compared to others? do they really deliver?
thanks and long life to Altbinz!!

[Giovani]

Usenet-News
better and badder
they offer monthly unlimited subscritions, 1month $USD 19, oe quarterly $USD 54
no difference, same retention as buying blocks!