Anyone else here trying to access RFC via Optonline's news server?

I ask b/c it seems the past few days, messages were timing out the
first time I tried to open them, but opened the second time. Now, I'm
only seeing 20 or so messages since yesterday, 9am. And when I try
to open one (I download headers only and read from the server via
outlook express), I get the error message that the post is no longer
on the server.

Something is obviously wrong, there've been more than 20 posts in the
past 24 hours! But I'm trying to see if it's my computer or their
server.

I checked the website for my ISP and they say all systems are go.

So if anyone else is having a problem, please let me know.
Thanks.

Meanwhile, I'm reading via Google, which isn't the best option.
I guess I need a recommendation for an alternative news server, too.

Sheryl

(Sheryl) writes:
>
>Anyone else here trying to access RFC via Optonline's news server?
>
>I ask b/c it seems the past few days, messages were timing out the
>first time I tried to open them, but opened the second time. Now, I'm
>only seeing 20 or so messages since yesterday, 9am. And when I try
>to open one (I download headers only and read from the server via
>outlook express), I get the error message that the post is no longer
>on the server.
>
>Something is obviously wrong, there've been more than 20 posts in the
>past 24 hours! But I'm trying to see if it's my computer or their
>server.
>
>I checked the website for my ISP and they say all systems are go.
>
>So if anyone else is having a problem, please let me know.
>Thanks.
>
>Meanwhile, I'm reading via Google, which isn't the best option.
>I guess I need a recommendation for an alternative news server, too.

Very likely a localized problem, weekends are a favorite time for ISPs to
upgrade their systems. Should be all better shortly.


---= BOYCOTT FRANCE (belgium) GERMANY--SPAIN =---
---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
*********
"Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."
Sheldon
````````````

(Sheryl) wrote in
om:

> Anyone else here trying to access RFC via Optonline's news server?
>
> I ask b/c it seems the past few days, messages were timing out the
> first time I tried to open them, but opened the second time. Now, I'm
> only seeing 20 or so messages since yesterday, 9am. And when I try
> to open one (I download headers only and read from the server via
> outlook express), I get the error message that the post is no longer
> on the server.
>
> Something is obviously wrong, there've been more than 20 posts in the
> past 24 hours! But I'm trying to see if it's my computer or their
> server.
>
> I checked the website for my ISP and they say all systems are go.
>
> So if anyone else is having a problem, please let me know.
> Thanks.
>
> Meanwhile, I'm reading via Google, which isn't the best option.
> I guess I need a recommendation for an alternative news server, too.
>
> Sheryl
>

There is that free german University run news server...sorry I lost their
addy. Somebody will post it hopefully.

--
Starchless in Manitoba.
Type 2 Diabetic

On 5 Dec 2004 07:24:47 -0800, (Sheryl) wrote:

>Anyone else here trying to access RFC via Optonline's news server?
>
>I ask b/c it seems the past few days, messages were timing out the
>first time I tried to open them, but opened the second time. Now, I'm
>only seeing 20 or so messages since yesterday, 9am. And when I try
>to open one (I download headers only and read from the server via
>outlook express), I get the error message that the post is no longer
>on the server.
>
>Something is obviously wrong, there've been more than 20 posts in the
>past 24 hours! But I'm trying to see if it's my computer or their
>server.
>
>I checked the website for my ISP and they say all systems are go.
>
>So if anyone else is having a problem, please let me know.
>Thanks.
>
>Meanwhile, I'm reading via Google, which isn't the best option.
>I guess I need a recommendation for an alternative news server, too.
>
>Sheryl


The Optonline news server has been completely trash the past 2-3 days.
I only use it as my back up news feed.

As a primary, I heartily recommend a German news server that works
flawlessly. They do not handle binary groups, though, in case that is
something you use.

http://news.individual.net/

Boron

On 5 Dec 2004 07:24:47 -0800, (Sheryl) wrote:

>Anyone else here trying to access RFC via Optonline's news server?
>
>I ask b/c it seems the past few days, messages were timing out the
>first time I tried to open them, but opened the second time. Now, I'm
>only seeing 20 or so messages since yesterday, 9am. And when I try
>to open one (I download headers only and read from the server via
>outlook express), I get the error message that the post is no longer
>on the server.
>
>Something is obviously wrong, there've been more than 20 posts in the
>past 24 hours! But I'm trying to see if it's my computer or their
>server.
>
>I checked the website for my ISP and they say all systems are go.
>
>So if anyone else is having a problem, please let me know.
>Thanks.
>
>Meanwhile, I'm reading via Google, which isn't the best option.
>I guess I need a recommendation for an alternative news server, too.
>
>Sheryl


The Optonline news server has been completely trash the past 2-3 days.
I only use it as my back up news feed.

As a primary, I heartily recommend a German news server that works
flawlessly. They do not handle binary groups, though, in case that is
something you use.

http://news.individual.net/

Boron

On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 16:18:10 GMT, Hahabogus
> wrote:


> > Something is obviously wrong, there've been more than 20 posts in the
> > past 24 hours! But I'm trying to see if it's my computer or their
> > server.
> >
> > I checked the website for my ISP and they say all systems are go.
> >
> > So if anyone else is having a problem, please let me know.
> > Thanks.
> >
> > Meanwhile, I'm reading via Google, which isn't the best option.
> > I guess I need a recommendation for an alternative news server, too.
> >
> > Sheryl
> >
>
> There is that free german University run news server...sorry I lost their
> addy. Somebody will post it hopefully.

http://www.teranews.com/

* Due to the overwhelming response to our free account offer
and the costs associated with verifying credit card
information we have begun charging a one time setup fee of
$3.95. Their are no recurring monthly fees with our 50MB/day
package.


sf
Practice safe eating - always use condiments

On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 16:18:10 GMT, Hahabogus
> wrote:


> > Something is obviously wrong, there've been more than 20 posts in the
> > past 24 hours! But I'm trying to see if it's my computer or their
> > server.
> >
> > I checked the website for my ISP and they say all systems are go.
> >
> > So if anyone else is having a problem, please let me know.
> > Thanks.
> >
> > Meanwhile, I'm reading via Google, which isn't the best option.
> > I guess I need a recommendation for an alternative news server, too.
> >
> > Sheryl
> >
>
> There is that free german University run news server...sorry I lost their
> addy. Somebody will post it hopefully.

http://www.teranews.com/

* Due to the overwhelming response to our free account offer
and the costs associated with verifying credit card
information we have begun charging a one time setup fee of
$3.95. Their are no recurring monthly fees with our 50MB/day
package.


sf
Practice safe eating - always use condiments

Boron Elgar wrote:

>
> The Optonline news server has been completely trash the past 2-3 days.
> I only use it as my back up news feed.
>
> As a primary, I heartily recommend a German news server that works
> flawlessly. They do not handle binary groups, though, in case that is
> something you use.
>
> http://news.individual.net/
>
> Boron

A more accurate statement would have been, "The Optonline new server
IS completely trash" *period*. One of the worst I've ever
encountered. I use news.individual.net as well. It's not great but
it's miles ahead of OOL. And OOL doesn't show any signs of improving
it either.

--
Steve

Who was the first person to say, "See that chicken there... I'm gonna
eat the next thing that comes outta it's ass?"

On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 13:31:58 -0500, Steve Calvin
> wrote:

>Boron Elgar wrote:
>
>>
>> The Optonline news server has been completely trash the past 2-3 days.
>> I only use it as my back up news feed.
>>
>> As a primary, I heartily recommend a German news server that works
>> flawlessly. They do not handle binary groups, though, in case that is
>> something you use.
>>
>> http://news.individual.net/
>>
>> Boron
>
>A more accurate statement would have been, "The Optonline new server
>IS completely trash" *period*. One of the worst I've ever
>encountered. I use news.individual.net as well. It's not great but
>it's miles ahead of OOL. And OOL doesn't show any signs of improving
>it either.


I figured it was just a server re-set that told me one of my favorite
groups had 88k+ messages to download. New server would, too, of
course. Too bad it doesn't seem to be able to deliver more than a
small fraction of them.

As I mentioned, I used it as a backup for .de. When I wanted to go
trace a message back a couple of days, OOL would be ideal , because it
dumped every few days & I only got what I was usually looking for.

I'd say give them a few days to get it running well, but I also know
that OOL customer service generally does not even know what Usenet is.
Ah well.

It is so easy to use multiple servers with Agent that I do not fret
much over OOL.

Boron

On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 14:07:03 -0500, Boron Elgar
> wrote:

> It is so easy to use multiple servers with Agent that I do not fret
> much over OOL.

Is that with the full version only or would I get the
multiple server feature if I upgraded to 2.0?

I didn't find information about using multiple servers on
http://www.forteinc.com/agent/features.php

TIA

sf
Practice safe eating - always use condiments

On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 14:07:03 -0500, Boron Elgar
> wrote:

> It is so easy to use multiple servers with Agent that I do not fret
> much over OOL.

Is that with the full version only or would I get the
multiple server feature if I upgraded to 2.0?

I didn't find information about using multiple servers on
http://www.forteinc.com/agent/features.php

TIA

sf
Practice safe eating - always use condiments

On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 20:39:34 GMT, sf > wrote:

>On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 14:07:03 -0500, Boron Elgar
> wrote:
>
>> It is so easy to use multiple servers with Agent that I do not fret
>> much over OOL.
>
>Is that with the full version only or would I get the
>multiple server feature if I upgraded to 2.0?
>
>I didn't find information about using multiple servers on
>http://www.forteinc.com/agent/features.php
>
>TIA
>
>sf
>Practice safe eating - always use condiments


I have the full version, so I do not know. I just install another
version of it to pick up another server, but there is a program called
Hamster, IIRC, http://www.tglsoft.de/misc/hamster_en.htm , that allows
you to "collect" from multiple servers and direct them into Agent. I
have not tried it, myself. Again, that may only be the full version.

The next really big change in Agent, the 2.1 release, which is due
soon, will allow multiple servers without separate installs.

Boron

On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 16:22:09 -0500, Boron Elgar
> wrote:

>
> I have the full version, so I do not know. I just install another
> version of it to pick up another server,

Okay, I could do that too... I thought the program was set
up to handle multiple servers.

> but there is a program called
> Hamster, IIRC, http://www.tglsoft.de/misc/hamster_en.htm , that allows
> you to "collect" from multiple servers and direct them into Agent.

I've heard of it.

> I
> have not tried it, myself. Again, that may only be the full version.
>
> The next really big change in Agent, the 2.1 release, which is due
> soon, will allow multiple servers without separate installs.
>
Great! I'll wait for 2.1 and we'll see if they let FA have
that feature.


sf
Practice safe eating - always use condiments

On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 16:22:09 -0500, Boron Elgar
> wrote:

>
> I have the full version, so I do not know. I just install another
> version of it to pick up another server,

Okay, I could do that too... I thought the program was set
up to handle multiple servers.

> but there is a program called
> Hamster, IIRC, http://www.tglsoft.de/misc/hamster_en.htm , that allows
> you to "collect" from multiple servers and direct them into Agent.

I've heard of it.

> I
> have not tried it, myself. Again, that may only be the full version.
>
> The next really big change in Agent, the 2.1 release, which is due
> soon, will allow multiple servers without separate installs.
>
Great! I'll wait for 2.1 and we'll see if they let FA have
that feature.


sf
Practice safe eating - always use condiments

Steve Calvin > wrote in message >...
> Boron Elgar wrote:
>
> >
> > The Optonline news server has been completely trash the past 2-3 days.
> > I only use it as my back up news feed.
> >
> > As a primary, I heartily recommend a German news server that works
> > flawlessly. They do not handle binary groups, though, in case that is
> > something you use.
> >
> > http://news.individual.net/
> >
> > Boron
>
> A more accurate statement would have been, "The Optonline new server
> IS completely trash" *period*. One of the worst I've ever
> encountered. I use news.individual.net as well. It's not great but
> it's miles ahead of OOL. And OOL doesn't show any signs of improving
> it either.

Thanks, Steve and Gloria, both!
Barb also emailed me the link to news.individual.net.

You confirmed my suspicion that something was up with the server.

Gloria, you're right, it's gone downhill the past few days. I also
noticed i've got THOUSANDS of headers, and it's retaining them for
weeks and weeks. It never did that before, I always just had the past
3-4 days of posts available to me. I never noticed it was that bad,
but then again, I only read one ng and at that, didn't even read it
for 6 months or so. I've been away from usenet so maybe that's why I
finally noticed how bad it was.

Yeah, I know they don't know anything about usenet on the cust.
service line. I didn't even bother. I may email their help desk,
though, just to satisfy my own need to complain to someone who might
be able to do something about it.

Thanks for your help, everyone.
Sheryl

Steve Calvin > wrote in message >...
> Boron Elgar wrote:
>
> >
> > The Optonline news server has been completely trash the past 2-3 days.
> > I only use it as my back up news feed.
> >
> > As a primary, I heartily recommend a German news server that works
> > flawlessly. They do not handle binary groups, though, in case that is
> > something you use.
> >
> > http://news.individual.net/
> >
> > Boron
>
> A more accurate statement would have been, "The Optonline new server
> IS completely trash" *period*. One of the worst I've ever
> encountered. I use news.individual.net as well. It's not great but
> it's miles ahead of OOL. And OOL doesn't show any signs of improving
> it either.

Thanks, Steve and Gloria, both!
Barb also emailed me the link to news.individual.net.

You confirmed my suspicion that something was up with the server.

Gloria, you're right, it's gone downhill the past few days. I also
noticed i've got THOUSANDS of headers, and it's retaining them for
weeks and weeks. It never did that before, I always just had the past
3-4 days of posts available to me. I never noticed it was that bad,
but then again, I only read one ng and at that, didn't even read it
for 6 months or so. I've been away from usenet so maybe that's why I
finally noticed how bad it was.

Yeah, I know they don't know anything about usenet on the cust.
service line. I didn't even bother. I may email their help desk,
though, just to satisfy my own need to complain to someone who might
be able to do something about it.

Thanks for your help, everyone.
Sheryl

Steve Calvin > wrote in message >...
> Boron Elgar wrote:
>
> >
> > The Optonline news server has been completely trash the past 2-3 days.
> > I only use it as my back up news feed.
> >
> > As a primary, I heartily recommend a German news server that works
> > flawlessly. They do not handle binary groups, though, in case that is
> > something you use.
> >
> > http://news.individual.net/
> >
> > Boron
>
> A more accurate statement would have been, "The Optonline new server
> IS completely trash" *period*. One of the worst I've ever
> encountered. I use news.individual.net as well. It's not great but
> it's miles ahead of OOL. And OOL doesn't show any signs of improving
> it either.

Thanks, Steve and Gloria, both!
Barb also emailed me the link to news.individual.net.

You confirmed my suspicion that something was up with the server.

Gloria, you're right, it's gone downhill the past few days. I also
noticed i've got THOUSANDS of headers, and it's retaining them for
weeks and weeks. It never did that before, I always just had the past
3-4 days of posts available to me. I never noticed it was that bad,
but then again, I only read one ng and at that, didn't even read it
for 6 months or so. I've been away from usenet so maybe that's why I
finally noticed how bad it was.

Yeah, I know they don't know anything about usenet on the cust.
service line. I didn't even bother. I may email their help desk,
though, just to satisfy my own need to complain to someone who might
be able to do something about it.

Thanks for your help, everyone.
Sheryl

On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 14:07:03 -0500, Boron Elgar
> wrote:

>It is so easy to use multiple servers with Agent that I do not fret
>much over OOL.

Hmm..I didn't know that.

I use Agent. Could you write me privately, so as to not take up
bandwidth, on how to utilize multiple servers with Agent?

Thanks,

Christine

On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 14:07:03 -0500, Boron Elgar
> wrote:

>It is so easy to use multiple servers with Agent that I do not fret
>much over OOL.

Hmm..I didn't know that.

I use Agent. Could you write me privately, so as to not take up
bandwidth, on how to utilize multiple servers with Agent?

Thanks,

Christine

On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 14:45:37 -0800, Christine Dabney
> wrote:

>On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 14:07:03 -0500, Boron Elgar
> wrote:
>
>>It is so easy to use multiple servers with Agent that I do not fret
>>much over OOL.
>
>Hmm..I didn't know that.
>
>I use Agent. Could you write me privately, so as to not take up
>bandwidth, on how to utilize multiple servers with Agent?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Christine


No bandwidth involved, really...just install another copy in another
folder.

Boron

On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 14:45:37 -0800, Christine Dabney
> wrote:

>On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 14:07:03 -0500, Boron Elgar
> wrote:
>
>>It is so easy to use multiple servers with Agent that I do not fret
>>much over OOL.
>
>Hmm..I didn't know that.
>
>I use Agent. Could you write me privately, so as to not take up
>bandwidth, on how to utilize multiple servers with Agent?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Christine


No bandwidth involved, really...just install another copy in another
folder.

Boron

Boron Elgar > wrote in
:

> On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 14:45:37 -0800, Christine Dabney
> > wrote:
>
> >On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 14:07:03 -0500, Boron Elgar
> > wrote:
> >
> >>It is so easy to use multiple servers with Agent that I do not fret
> >>much over OOL.
> >
> >Hmm..I didn't know that.
> >
> >I use Agent. Could you write me privately, so as to not take up
> >bandwidth, on how to utilize multiple servers with Agent?
> >
> >Thanks,
> >
> >Christine
>
>
> No bandwidth involved, really...just install another copy in another
> folder.
>
> Boron

Xnews you just add a new server to the list of servers you can have.

--
Starchless in Manitoba.
Type 2 Diabetic

In article >,
(Sheryl) wrote:

> Thanks, Steve and Gloria, both!
> Barb also emailed me the link to news.individual.net.

> Thanks for your help, everyone.
> Sheryl

Sheryl, I know you use a Macintosh, too. I'm quite happy with
NewsWatcher (Mac only software). It's a free download and a donation is
requested. Supports killfiles and posts can be sorted a number of ways.
You should be able to find it via <versiontracker.com> if not by simply
Googling for it. I don't remember if you're on Mac OSX or OS 9. I use
9.1. There are other Mac readers, too -- MacSoup is well regarded but
has, I'm told, a rather steeper learning curve.
--
-Barb, <www.jamlady.eboard.com> Updated 11-29-04; Sam I Am!
birthday telling; Thanksgiving 2004; Fanfare, Maestro, please.
"Are we going to measure or are we going to cook?" -Food writer
Mimi Sheraton