Take the pain out of Usenet searching
Classes were the internet media, with a range of classes for talking interests, very similar to the way hashtags that is trending work on Twitter. However, over past couple of years while Usenet classes have become less of a focus for users they remain active.
The issue is, Usenet groups are so widespread and enormous today that it’s hard to search for the information, but also to track messages in them you’re searching for in them.
Luckily, NZB bookmarking sites provide an easy way to search for info buried in newsgroups, by NZB file formats, which can be similar to XML documents. Where advice is mentioned, some will highlight articles, but NZB clients allow you to download and monitor Usenet group articles.
However, do expect at least to need to register an account on sites that will offer the maximum information. Additionally, do be aware that some providers charge a fee for access.
Here are the best in NZB indexing websites.
Have a look at our best Usenet providers
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1. Nzbplanet
Quality indexing from a site that is professional
Nzbplanet is a website that’s always indexing the Usenet NZBs.
The site will go soon, although registration was public at the time of writing. Signing up will provide you a free accounts which allows five downloads a day and 200 days retention if it is possible to get in before the door closes, however no API strikes.
Nzbplanet bears a strong resemblance. Lists of’downloads to the last 24 hours’ show you exactly what’s available in audio, video or other categories. It is possible to browse classes and filter them by attributes like year, name and genre. Pick the NZBs you’ll need — up to a maximum of five for your plan — and they can be downloaded by you at a couple of clicks.
This worked for us, but newsgroup users might want to update to one of the more powerful plans.
The #8 ($11.20) annually VIP program gives you 2,500 days retention, unlimited downloads, a document password checker, NZB queuing, access to some VIP-only forum, and much more.
The #15 ($21) annually Platinum plan extends your VIP account with 20,000 API strikes, or a one-off #50 ($70) provides you a life membership.
2. NZBIndex
Easy, free and easy Usenet searching
NZBIndex is a free and easy-to-use online Usenet search engine based in the Netherlands.
The interface looks like every other web search tool you used. Enter a keyword, click Search, and NZBIndex scans speedily returning matching NZBs, 888 newsgroups.
An Advanced Search screen has a strong set of search filters. It is possible to select whether they have an NFO file, or files by age, size, poster. You are also able to hunt in particular groups and there are choices to conceal junk or uploads. (The site does not share any information on its spam detection procedures, but you always have the option to turn this off when it causes problems.)
Heading off to the Groups area shows a list of those indexed groups, together with some useful stats: the number of collections at a group, the time it was last indexed (usually within the last few minutes, it was when we checked), current retention per category (normally around 1,900 times ) and the total size of the scanned files.
Clicking any group displays its contents in the same format returned with a standard search, and you can navigate and download its files in just the same way.
It is all very straightforward, as well as newsgroup novices will probably probably be finding their way round the website in only a couple of minutes.
3. NZBGeek
Professional Usenet support for everyone (not only geeks)
NZBGeek is a popular NZB indexing website with a community that is busy.
The site doesn’t exactly boast about its own features — when we arrived, all we saw was a signup form — but enroll for free and you’re able to search around.
The NZBGeek interface has lots of visual appeal. The front page of the website includes thumbnails or you can drill down to different audio, video and other classes to get a more sophisticated view.
An unusually strong search tool named GeekSeek gives you all kinds of preferences and filters. In addition to the normal keyword searching, you can set keywords to ignore and define details such as the document size, poster, resolution, language, and also the minimum number of downloads up to now.
Selecting any file that is individual displays a substantial quantity of detail with hyperlinks to an RSS feed, associated websites and more.
A focus on community starts with a live option near the peak of front page, and there is also a forum.
That was easy to repair, although we weren’t able to download any NZBs immediately. A 14-day trial gives complete and immediate access to the site, and after which you’ve got plenty of options out there.
A 6-month membership costs $6 (#4.30), while paying $12 (#8.60) gets you a year. A two-year plan costs $18 (#12.90) or you’ll be able to grab a lifetime membership for $30 (#21.50). NZB indexers have a rather cloudy presence and in theory a website could disappear at any moment, but NZBGeek has existed since 2012, so you may believe that the lifetime program is worth the gamble.
4. NZBFinder.ws
Read the Usenet content at No Cost
NZBFinder.ws is a likeable nZEDb-powered Usenet indexing site based in the EU.
Registration is quick and easy, and once logged in you are able to Browse the downloads in a few of audio and video categories.
Pick a File and you’re presented with a range of significant details. Many of these cover the contents of the document — name, genre, year, links to trailers or sites like IMDB — but there is also useful info regarding the download itself. Including the size, completion, the groups where it had been posted, the poster’s name, as well as also the contents of the destination document (an ISO, a press document, or anything else).
You May browse groups or use the Search tool of NZBFinder. This isn’t as powerful as the site claims, however, it covers the basics, together with options to locate files by launch, file or the first Usenet name, age, group, category and size.
Outcomes are variable. The site’only’ indexes around 330 classes, but clever deobfuscation can help to reliably identify content, and there is a promised”8+ year backlog of NZBs” to use.
You can get Started with NZBFinder’s relatively generous free program, which includes five downloads and 25 API strikes a day.
Paying $10 (#8.90, $12.30) annually gets you Basic membership with unlimited downloads and 5,000 API strikes. Upgrading to the Guru plan for $20 (#17.80, $24.60) makes you 20,000 API hits, whereas the Elite program prices $35 (#31, $43) and supports infinite API access and throws in Spotweb, a Spotnet-based indexing program.
5. NZB.su
A indexer
NZB.su is a Newznab-based NZB indexing website and API search service. Registration is open to everyone. We signed up without difficulty, and moments later were scrolling through a forum-like view of the most recent downloads.
This Opening interface is text-heavy and quite dull, without the graphics past a very small website logo on the toolbar. NZB.su did not impress us with its deobfuscation skills, either — more than half of the file names we saw on the opening page were along the lines of’XvickMbTIm3lzohJqJPkpChPdvI’.
Luckily, You do not need to live with this default perspective. Menu options allow drilling down to whatever audio, video or other media content you need, and an optional Covers view displays thumbnails, summaries, IMDB or TRAKT information and more. There’s also a little bit of information regarding the document — dimensions, the number of files, the poster, the origin group — but perhaps not as much as you will occasionally see elsewhere.
There Were a few issues. When we attempted the website, only basic keyword searching was available, for instance — there is an Advanced Search feature, but it was not accessible for all of us. Was this some limit of the account that is free? NZB.su does not make it apparent what you get, so it’s hard to say.
Still, Our test searches returned plenty of hits, and also we were able to download a few files for free (the limit appears to be five a day on the free accounts ).
Opting for a Paid account gets you 600 downloads and 5,000 API queries daily, and what NZB.su calls for a”better site experience”, which essentially means the type of characteristics you will get elsewhere for free: top downloads lists, more pictures, previews and so on.
Handing around $4 (Number 2.90) Gets you access to the entire support for 30 days, or paying $14 (#10) Covers you for annually. Bitcoin payments and credit card are supported Now, as we write, Bitcash is accepted manually (the latter will even Be automated once it is encouraged by Bitpay).
