Alt.Binaries.Music.SHN.DMB - Quick Start (X-News)

[Billie'sTV]

If you have RoadRunner, Optimum Online, Cox, or another ISP that offers a free News-Server this is definitely worth checking out. (There are a number of servers for various ISPs listed below now)

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Here's a quick lesson on how to use Alt.Binaries.Music.SHN.DMB to download the DMB SHNs at blazing speeds.

I'm writing this specifically for Optimum Online and Road Runner users because those are the two ISPs that I have the most experience with - and I know they both carry the DMB SHN group on their server.

If other users have experience w/ other ISPs, or premium servers - please add any comments.

Anyway, if you have OOL or RR, follow these instructions:

1) Download X-News - http://xnews.newsguy.com/ - There are a number of news-reader programs you could use, but I prefer X-News. It's free, and fairly simple to use.

2) Find out your News-Server Address. I'm fairly sure Optimum online only has one, which is: news.optonline.net . Road Runner has different servers per region, so you'll have to goto http://www.help.rr.com and find your News-server address listed somewhere(on my page there's a link for "server addresses" on the right). It should look something like news-server.swfla.rr.com.

3) Unzip X-News, and open it. It'll prompt you for your server address and an alias. Use any alias and plug in the address from "2". Then it should ask you to retrieve a list of available groups - pick Yes.

4) After it downloads the list of 30,000 or so Newsgroups the server carries, type "DMB" in the white box on the bottom. This will reduce the list of groups to: Alt.binaries.music.shn.dmb

5) Right Click on: Alt.binaries.Music.SHN.DMB and pick subscribe. Then just click the group, and it should start loading all of the available "message headers" into the main window.

6) After that completes you'll want to click on the "T" button on the bottom of the screen(it should be "depressed"). This threads all of the parts of a file into one header, making it MUCH easier to download. Basically when a SHN is posted to usenet it's uploaded as a series of message (1/130, 2/130, 3/130, etc), Threading them will tell XNews to show one header per file.

7) If you've gotten this far, you should see a bunch of SHNs listed. I usually click the "date" bar above the headers to organize the messages by date. (4-05-2002 Bastable is the most recent on my server).

8) Now, to download - Queue files with Right Click/Queue (or you can just highlight the message and pick spacebar). You'll know a file is queued when you see a number after it (the number just indicates the total number of parts queued).

9) After you've queued what you want, click F4 and tell it where to download to. It's that simple, and the rates for OOL and RR users should be at _least_ 100kb/s. I often get 250kb/s off my RR server.

10) Other things:

- F5 reloads the headers (Checks for more messages)
- Files DO expire, so dl older posts first. Typical retention for RR/OOl is about 2-3 days.
- A complete green cube next to a file listing indicates that the file is complete on your sever. Occationally a server may drop a part or two, in which case you'll have to ask for a fill or repost.
-If you decide you want to post shows to the newsgroup, you'll simply need to download another program called Power Post yEnc. This program is posted to the newsgroup fairly often, and is very simply to use.

That's all I can think of - and I really hope some of you check it out. It's an amazing resource for those who can use it.

Good luck.

-Jay[BTV]
http://www.dmbshnhavenii.net


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Extra Help:

Thanks to Pin87a for the JPG / following explaination.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/billie...on2/dmbshn.jpg

If the posts are not combined into single files, click the "T" (circled in the picture) to combine them.

Then queue them up by clicking where the arrow in the picture is pointing to. (for each file)

Then click the combine/decode button (also circled) to download the files.

Notice the icon to the left of the headers are all "complete cubes" - don't download posts that are still arriving on your server, or ones that are incomplete.

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Other Programs you could use to download from the Newsgroup:
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Grabit: http://www.shemes.com/grabit/ (Aparently really easy to use, and allows multiple files to be downloaded at the same time. This is particularly good for users capped per connection)

NewsBin Pro: http://www.newsbin.com/ (This is a commercial program. It's big advantage is that it can be setup to use multiple servers to complete posts)...

For Macs:
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Try Hogwasher. There are probably other (possibly free) programs out there, but I'm not on a Mac so I don't know. This program will handle the new yEnc encoding method, and does have a 60-day trial:

http://www.macnn.com/news.php?id=15058

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Decent Pay Servers (if your ISP doesn't offer a free one)
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www.giganews.com - Probably the best in completion/Retention/Speed, but it is a bit expensive (10 bucks gets you 6-9gigs of dls)

Consult http://www.usenet-provider.com/ for reviews on others. There are some really _bad_ ones out there, so make sure you ask around.

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Extra Info
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Videos(RARs):

Often Videos are posted in RAR format. This is mainly to divide huge files up into parts - allowing for easier reposts/fills. Sometimes the Archives are self-extracting (the first file will be an EXE that will extract the rest) other times they're not. If they're not self-extracting you'll need WinRAR (www.rarlabs.com) in order to extract the MPG from them.

Basically to get the MPG, you'll download all of the RARs of the set, and then extract with WinRAR, or run the EXE.


PAR Files:

Par files are corrective files. Often posters who post equal sized RAR sets will post an additional set of PAR files to account for missing or incompletes that may occur on your server. The .PAR is essentially the same as an MD5 file. The .P01, .P02, .P03 (etc) files are data sets that are slightly larger than each RAR part in the original set. Using a program such as SmarPar or FSRaid (both are posted to the newsgroup from time to time) you can check the set, and also fix/recreate 1 RAR for each .P0# file you have downloaded. So, for example, say you're downloading a video that has 10 RAR parts, but one is incomplete on your server. Rather than requesting a respost/fill, you could just download one of the P0# files (they're universal), and use SmartPar or FSRaid to recover the missing part. NOTE: If all of the RARs of a set reach your server complete there is no need to download the Parity(PAR) files.

(You can download Smartpar, and also read more about PAR files here: http://www.smr-usenet.com/tutor/smartpar.shtml)


Posting Shows (Don't - unless you know what you're doing)
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First off it's important to note that you shouldn't feel obligated to post something. Downloading shows from the Newsgroup doesn't affect other users, so don't feel as though you HAVE to upload. That being said, if you have good shows (Original Taper SHN Conversions) people will definitely appreciate a post. Otherwise a great way to contribute is to help with reposts of tracks that others request. Sometimes a track may make it fine to your server, but be incomplete on other ISPs/server. So helping those people out by reposting the track again is a great way to support the functionality of the Newsgroup.

To post shows I recommend using Power Post yEnc (PostMost.exe). You can download it using this link: http://www.dmbshnhavenii.net/downloads/postmost.exe .

PowerPost is really simple to use, basically you just queue and post. It's recommended you set the "lines" setting to 3250 in setup. That's the one option you should adjust. To queue shows, just right click and pick Add files to Queue. If you're queuing a whole disc, you can click the "view menu"(Right of Create New Folder) on the Open Files window, and then tell windows to list the files (Details). When they're listed vertically, you can just hold the mouse button and highlight the first disc - queueing them all at once(This will also take advantage of the header's $1 and $2 variables).

**It's recommended that you try a test post to Alt.binaries.test to see how your post will look.

Posting Segment Fills: If you find people request fills for segments that don't reach their server - you can fill them. All you do, is right click on the file that's listed as completed in PowerPost. Pick ReQueue Selected file. Then right click it again, and pick Task Properties. In there you'll see a check boxs for each segment that made up that file when it was posted. Basically just check the ones that were missing, and when click the post button. That'll resend those parts and they should "Fill" the incomplete when they reach the other persons server. The key is to NOT change the header when post fills. This is a good reason why you should wait a while before your delete your transfer history in PowerPost(if ever).

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Some servers for various ISPs that were compiled (incomplete so check your ISPs homepage):


Ameritech.net
news.cha.sbcglobal.net - Champaign, IL
news.chi.sbcglobal.net - Chicago, IL
news.blt.sbcglobal.net - Bloomington, IN
news.ind.sbcglobal.net - Indianapollis, IN
news.det.sbcglobal.net - Detroit, MI
news.kal.sbcglobal.net - Kalamazoo, MI
news.col.sbcglobal.net - Columbus, OH
news.peo.sbcglobal.net - Peoria, IL
news.sbn.sbcglobal.net - South Bend, IN
news.sgn.sbcglobal.net - Saginaw, MI
news.akr.sbcglobal.net - Akron, OH
news.cle.sbcglobal.net - Cleveland, OH
news.day.sbcglobal.net - Dayton, OH


attbi.com
netnews.attbi.com


cox.nets
news.east.cox.net
news.west.cox.net
news.central.cox.net


insightbb
netnews.insightbb.com


Optimum Online
news.optonline.net


RoadRunner
news-server.swfla.rr.com - SW Florida
news-server.cfl.rr.com - Central Florida
news-server.nc.rr.com - North Carolina
news-server.sc.rr.com - South Carolina
news-server.mn.rr.com - Minnesota
news-server.wi.rr.com - Wisconsin
news-server.cinci.rr.com - Cincinatti, OH
news-server.stny.rr.com
news-server.twcny.rr.com
news-server.insight.rr.com

Sympatico
news1.on.sympatico.ca - Ontario, Canada
news1.qc.sympatico.ca - Quebec, Canada

[Mike]

BTW...thanks for all the posts on the ng. I have filled up 3 of my 4 hard drives pretty quick because of the newsgroups......

Mike

[rhuss]

i agree with M M

i've filled up many cd's with the shn's that are posted!!! i don't have the luxury like Momo does of having multiple large hard drives (wow that sounded bad)....

now with even more people there and posting (ChristieDMB!!!!) a lot more shows are being spread and for many people to download since there is no server to login to and speeds (at least for me) rock!!!!

thanks Dems, Jay, JWolf and everyone else who posts and uses the newsgroups!!

also alt.binaries.music.shn is a good group too. i've gotten a bunch of bonnaroo there thanks to boogie and have been turned on to more than just live DMB

*edit* as Jay pointed out one piece of software to use. I use GrabIt and have created a pretty short tutorial for it if anyone wants it please email me. Grabit can only download from the newsgroups and not post, so I aslo use Free Agent to post messages to the newsgroup.

[davematt56]

i can not get the list of servers to load. please help!! my aim is faithintheson

[rhuss]

some more info might help.

what program? any errors? etc.

[Joe M.]

hey guys... just wanted to know if there was a way to add the group to the news server without like callin up my ISP... i know originaly they send out the initial request when i new group is formed... but is there any way for me to add it on? or do i have to call and see if they will add it?

[rhuss]

nope sorry you have to call your ISP, you might want to talk to someone of a more techy background ...

[Joe M.]

Originally posted by rhuss
nope sorry you have to call your ISP, you might want to talk to someone of a more techy background ...

what do i ask them to add???

just say alt.binaries.music.shn.dmb ?

[eelall]

I do believe that is all you need

[Joe M.]

well in case anyone cares.....

i called... and they said they will send it off to see if it would be added... cause they do it through a third party... but they guy was nice enough to tell me that the more people that call the faster that it will get pushed down the line and get put on the newsgroup...

so if anyone here uses wideopenwest... please help out...

heres the phone number : 1-866-496-9669
and ask them to add alt.binaries.music.shn.dmb

[Billie'sTV]

Top

[mischievousgrin]

I spent about a half hour d/ling and setting up and glad as hell that I did. You don't exactly have your pick of shows, but shit, they're just sitting there waiting for you to download them. I did'nt get breakneck speeds either (30-100 K, who can complain), but you don't have to try endlessly to get in and you don't get disconnected. I picked up the 7/5 show the other day jsut as it was starting to get around. Thanks Billie's TV ! :

[marathon18586]

Can anyone in here help me out and inform me whether or not my isp, Ameritech, will let me use newgroups like Alt.Binaries.Music.SHN.DMB? I'm not a very techy type person and don't really know how to go about finding out. Thanks so much.

michael

[mischievousgrin]

I just found my providers news server and looked to see if they had it. They did...
Give it a try.
Go to your ISP's web site and search for "news groups" and see if you can find an address, then jsut plug it in to xnews and see what comes up.

[awgolk]

David Gray -

Have you heard anything back from WOW on if they are going to add it???

I called a well last week and still waiting a response.

[rhuss]

FYI - there are all sorts of summer 2002 being posted ... get'em while the gettin's good. i would say at least 3-4 new shows being posted last night & today



mischievousgrin - those are your speeds for the newsgroups?? hmmm guess thats not bad. i usually get anywhere from 200kbps - 300kbps.

[Joe M.]

Originally posted by awgolk
David Gray -

Have you heard anything back from WOW on if they are going to add it???

I called a well last week and still waiting a response.

no i am going to start calling everyday now... i keep an eye on the list and keep regetting it to see if its been added but nothing yet... are you on WOW too? if so cool cause i will keep ya posted on it...

[mischievousgrin]

200-300K huh? That's awesome.
The best I've had was 105K and that didn't last very long. My ISP is MediaCOM and they routinely overstate their performance but I'm not complaining. I'll take 20K anyday when it's a sure thing.
Good luck to those of you trying to add it to your ISP's list, it's a great way to get shows.
Many thanks to those who post the shows.

[rhuss]

Originally posted by mischievousgrin
200-300K huh?

yup and i love it!!!

make sure you are on the newgroups today and maybe tomorrow cause when i checked this morning the summer 2002 was flowing!!!

its definatly a great resource and there are a ton of great people posting older and new shows. my collection has definatly grown a lot since using the newsgroups, especially with the speed.

<---- is this really a pic of a goat?? does it look like a goat to everyone else?

[rockdmb]

how do i exactly know that i have gotten all of the files? can anyone help a newb?

AIM - ajrockdmb2001

[dmband_fan1]

Originally posted by rhuss


yup and i love it!!!

make sure you are on the newgroups today and maybe tomorrow cause when i checked this morning the summer 2002 was flowing!!!

its definatly a great resource and there are a ton of great people posting older and new shows. my collection has definatly grown a lot since using the newsgroups, especially with the speed.

<---- is this really a pic of a goat?? does it look like a goat to everyone else?

it is fenton the goat before he dyed his coat and this is him after

[rhuss]

Originally posted by rockdmb
how do i exactly know that i have gotten all of the files? can anyone help a newb?

AIM - ajrockdmb2001

run the md5's for the discs. it will tell you if you are missing some or if some do not verify

[rhuss]

Originally posted by dmband_fan1


it is fenton the goat before he dyed his coat and this is him after

must be an inside thing

[JWolf]

I did post a control mesage for alt.binaries.music.shn.dmb.repost so check for that. Also I posted another control message for alt.binaries.music.shn.dmb in hopes that the servers that don't have it get it.

Jon

[bmhlax3]

Is there any way you can get older shows from alt.binaries.music.shn.dmb or is it just the ones that are shown. (not complaining, just wonderin)

[rhuss]

just the ones that are posted, but people do post older shows.

[bmhlax3]

I can only seem to get single files, how do you get the whole shows?

[rhuss]

single files are posted, but you should see whole shows.

i.e.

dmb2002-07-06d1t01.shn
dmb2002-07-06d1t02.shn
dmb2002-07-06d1t03.shn
etc

[bmhlax3]

Everytime I close it, when I open it back up I cant see the same files, it says "no new articles". How do I get them all to show up?

[ibanezcollector]

Originally posted by bmhlax3
Everytime I close it, when I open it back up I cant see the same files, it says "no new articles". How do I get them all to show up?

wondering the same thing