The PlusNet Newsreader

You can access your news from any web-connected computer in the world using our web-based interface newsreader. It is quick and easy to use.

The PlusNet newsreader gives you access to the global network of newsgroups, known as USENET. See the Newsgroups: A Beginner's guide for more information about the history and basics of newsgroups and USENET.

Alternative newsreaders

If you don't want to use PlusNet's newsreader there are guides for a number of other newsreaders below:

Forte Agent	Netscape Communicator	Netscape Navigator	Outlook Express

Set the newsreaders server address preferences to news.plus.net.

Using the PlusNet Newsreader

When you select USENET from the left hand menu in the Member Centre you will be directed to the PlusNet newsreader and a list of PlusNet newsgroups.

The PlusNet newsgroups are an excellent way of giving feedback to our customer support team, finding answers to problems, or simply chatting with fellow PlusNet customers. For more information see the PlusNet Newsgroups Guide.

You are free to post in most newsgroups, except for those reserved for official PlusNet use, (e.g. the 'announce' and 'service.status' groups).

Either click on the newsgroup that interests you or click search to find a newsgroup based on your own interests.

Reading a newsgroup

1. Choose a newsgroup to view a list of latest postings. There are three pieces of information displayed for each posting:
   
   1. The subject.
   2. The author.
   3. The date of posting.
      
2. Each posting has a symbol next to it. This shows whether anyone has posted a reply to it.
3. Click on the subject to read the posting or click on the author's name to send them an email. Please note: newsgroup users often enter false email addresses to avoid spam email.

 

Reading a newsgroup posting

Click on the subject of a post to read the posting. If there aren't any replies to the original message you will just be shown that text.

However, if there is a thread of posts based on this subject you'll be shown the text of the original posting plus the title, author and date of any replies.

Making a new posting

To start a new thread in a newsgroup:

1. Choose the newsgroup you want to post to.
2. Click Post and you will go to the Post Message screen.
3. You will be asked to enter a subject in the Subject box. Try and make this as short and clear as possible.
4. Your name and email address are automatically added. If you want to change either of these you can. Please note: consider using a false email address to avoid receiving spam.
5. Type your message in the Message box;
6. Click Send when you have finished.

Your posting will appear at the head of the newsgroup's postings list. However, it may not happen straightaway. If it doesn't automatically appear, wait for 15 minutes before you try and re-post your message.

To practice posting messages create a test post on the PlusNet newsgroup.

Replying to a newsgroup posting

If you wish to reply to a posting:

1. Click Reply to this message at the top of the posting.
2. Enter a subject, name and email address into the message box.
3. The content of the original posting is quoted using ">" symbols to represent quotation marks. Delete unwanted quoted text, being careful to leave enough for people to follow the thread. Insert the word 'snip' in cut areas if necessary;
4. Enter your reply and then click Send.
5. You will return to the list of postings and your reply should now have been added to the thread.

Older/Newer Posts

If you want to see older or newer newsgroup posts simply click the Older Posts or Newer Posts option. The Older Posts option can be particularly helpful if you are looking for previous threads that you have been involved in.

General newsgroup etiquette

There are some common rules newsgroup users should stick to:

• Make postings clear and easy to understand. Many newsgroup communities are spread across the world, so avoid colloquialisms and cultural references.
• Sarcasm and humour are not always easy to understand in written form. Try and make it obvious if you are being light hearted. Smilies are excellent for this :-).
• Only use upper case letters if you want to give the impression that you are SHOUTING.
• Only post once. Be patient; if your posting doesn't appear immediately, wait 10 - 15 minutes before re-posting.