Newsgroups

I. Set up your newsgroup with Netscape Messenger

Reading newsgroups can be done from Netscape's Messenger, the same way you access your e-mail.

Set your preferences to use the Boo.net news server:

  1. Go to Edit and select Preferences.
  2. Select Mail and Newsgroups.
  3. Select Newsgroup Servers.
  4. If pnews.boo.net is not listed as your server, select Add... and enter pnews.boo.net
  5. Note: You do not need to set the Port or the check boxes for the SSL or the Always use name and password. You are automatically granted news server access based on your IP address.
  6. Select the OK button.
  7. If this is the only newsgroup listed, it will be your default. If not, you can set this as your default by making sure pnews.boo.net is selected and click the Set as Default button.
  8. Select the OK button to save the settings and close the Preferences window.

See what newsgroups are available:

  1. Open your e-mail.
  2. Go to File and select Subscribe.
Note: The first time that you choose this, Netscape will download the names for all newsgroups. Dependent on your access speed, it may take some time to finish.

Find newsgroups you are interested in:

  1. Select the Search tab.
  2. Enter a subject that you are interested in into the Search For: box.
  3. Select the Search Now button.

For example, when a search for camping was performed, it returned:

alt.rec.camping
de.rec.reisen.camping
fido.ger.camping
rec.outdoors.camping

Subscribe to a newsgroup:

  1. Select a newsgroup that interests you, alt.rec.camping for instance.
  2. Select the Subscribe button. (You can subscribe to additional newsgroups following these two steps.)
  3. Select the OK button when finished.

Unsubscribe to a newsgroup:

  1. Go to File and selelct Subscribe.
  2. Select the group you wish to unsubscribe from.
  3. Select the unsubscribe button. When the check turns into a dot, you know that you have unsubscribed.
  4. Select the OK button when finished.

Read the newsgroup from your Netscape Messenger window, which is where you may also read your e-mail:

  1. Select the pnews.boo.net account.
  2. Scroll down to the name of the newsgroup you subscribed to (alt.rec.camping) and choose it.
  3. Select the Download button.
    Note: If you do not see pnews.boo.net or your subscribed newsgroups, select the plus sign.

You can read and post messages just like you read and reply to e-mail:

  1. To send to the newsgroup, press the Reply button. Using the pull down menu, (right click the mouse), select to Newsgroup Ctrl+R.
  2. To respond to the person, press the Reply button. Using the pull down menu (right click the mouse), select to Sender Only.
  3. To respond to both, press the Reply to All button.

For more help with Newsgroups and Netscape:

  1. Select Help from the top right on your Netscape Browser.
  2. Select Help from the pull down list.
  3. Choosing Newsgroups will giveyou more information on using newsgroups.
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II. Set up your newsgroup with Microsoft Outlook Express (e-mail)

Reading newsgroups can be done from Outlook Express, the same way you use your e-mail.

Set your preferences to use the Boo.net news server:

  1. Go to Tools and select Accounts.
  2. Select the News tab.
  3. Select Newsgroup Servers.
  4. If pnews.boo.net is not listed as your server, select Add -> News... follow the Internet Connection Wizard...
  5. Enter the name you want to use when you post a message or send e-mail and select the Next button.
  6. Enter an e-mail address so people can reply to your e-mail message and select the Next button.
  7. Enter pnews.boo.net when prompted for your News (NNTP) Server.
  8. You are automatically granted news server access based on your IP address, so you do Not need to check the My news server requires me to log on box. Select the Next button.
  9. Select the Finish button to save changes.
  10. If this is the only newsgroup listed, it will be your default. If not, you can set this as your default by making sure pnews.boo.net is highlighted and select the Set as Default button.
  11. Select the Close button.
  12. Select the Yes button to download newsgroups.

    13. Note: The first time that you choose this, Outlook Express will download the names for all newsgroups. Dependent on your access speed, it may take approximately 10 minutes for this to finish.
  13. Select the OK button to close the window.

See what newsgroups are available:

    Once you finished setting your preferences, the news server should appear as a folder in Outlook Express.

  1. Folders:
    • Inbox
    • Outbox
    • Sent Items
    • Deleted Items
    • Drafts
    • pnews.boo.net
  2. Click the pnews.boo.net
  3. If you are not already subscribed to any newsgroups, Outlook Express will ask if you want to see a list of available newsgroups. Select the Yes button.

Find newsgroups you are interested in:

    Once you see the list of newsgroups, you can search for a topic that interests you by typing the subject of interest into the box beneath "Display newsgroups which contain:" near the top of the Newsgroups Subscriptions window.

  1. Select the Search tab.
  2. Enter a subject that you are interested in into the Search For: box.
  3. Select the Search Now button.

For example, when a search for camping was performed, it returned:

alt.rec.camping
de.rec.reisen.camping
fido.ger.camping
rec.outdoors.camping

Subscribe to a newsgroup:

  1. Select a newsgroup that interests you, alt.rec.camping for instance.
  2. Select the Subscribe button. (You can subscribe to additional newsgroups following these two steps.)
  3. Select the OK button when finished.

Read the Newsgroup, which is also where you may read your e-mail within Folders.

  1. UsingOutlook Express, scroll down to the name of the newsgroup you subscribe to (alt.rec.camping) and double-click.
  2. Using Internet Explorer, go to Tools, choose Mail and News, and select Read News. Outlook Express opens.
  3. Scroll down to the name of the newsgroup you subscribed to (alt.rec.camping) and double-click.

You can read and post messages just like you read and reply to e-mail:

  1. To send to the newsgroup, select the Reply Group button.
  2. To respond to the person, select the Reply button.

To unsubscribe from a newsgroup:

  1. In Outlook Express, double-click pnews.boo.net from your Folders.
  2. Select the Newsgroup button.
  3. Select the Subscribed tab.
  4. Select the group you wish to unsubscribe from.
  5. Select the Unsubscribe button.
  6. Select the OK button.

For more help with Newsgroups and Outlook Express:

  1. Select Help from the top right in Outlook Express.
  2. Select Contents and Index.
  3. Select the Contents tab.
  4. Choose Viewing and Posting to Newsgroups to bring up more information on using newsgroups.
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