This page describes how to configure your software to access the Genecast News Service. For information on what Usenet is, and what the Genecast News Service can do for you, read the FAQ.

You don't need to download and install special software to access the Genecast News Service. Any Usenet newsreader will do. For your convenience we recommend software that is capable of periodically checking for new messages, and displaying HTML formatted messages (although Genecast supports plain text clients as well).

Excellent newsreaders for MS Windows and OS X are Microsoft Outlook Express, Netscape and Mozilla. The latter are available for most unices, including Linux, as well. Many more newsreaders can be found at www.newsreaders.com.

If you have any questions, be sure to check the FAQ.

Technically, the Genecast server is a normal Usenet (NNTP) server. As a result, setting up your software is as easy and straightforward as for any other news server.

• Server name: freenews.genecast.com
• Server port: default (which is 119)
• You are NOT required to log on
• Select the option "use newsgroup descriptions" when available
• Select the option "include this account when checking for new messages" or "check for new messages every ... minutes"
• Read these configuration tips.

• Server name: news.genecast.com
• Server port: default (which is 119)
• Select the option "this server requires you to log on"
• In the "account name" and "password" fields, enter the Genecast credentials you received in the e-mail that confirmed your subscription
• On MS Windows, check the option "log on using secure password authentication"
• Select the option "use newsgroup descriptions" when available
• Select the option "include this account when checking for new messages" or "check for new messages every ... minutes"
• Read these configuration tips.

For a detailed description of how to set up Outlook Express, check out this article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.

To create a news account in MS Outlook Express, select option Accounts in the Tools menu. Choose Add, then News and follow the wizard. When you're done, select the new account in the list and choose Properties. Click on the tabs in the image below to view what the properties should look like. The connection tab requires no specific configuration.

• Disable the option "delete news messages ... days after being downloaded". This can be very confusing when reading weblogs. It is on tab Maintenance when you select Options from the Tools menu.
• You may find it convenient to enable the option "mark all messages as read when exiting a newsgroup". This option is on tab Read when you select Options from the Tools menu.

Start the Mail & Newsgroups aplication and select Account settings from the Edit menu. Click on the Add account button and follow the wizard.

When you're done, select the new account in the list and click on the image below to check if the settings are similar. It is not possible to specify username/password at set-up time, but the software will prompt you for it when necessary.