Newsgroup username and password?

[#1]

I've not been on newsgroups for quite a long time but have them set up within Thunderbird.
Can anyone remind me what format the username and password should be because I can't seem to connect with my regular account details.

[#2]

You don't need a username and password. You do need to be connected to the Plusnet network though. Looking at the IP you've posted from, I'm guessing you're not?

[#3]

Or you've rolled out another IP block and not updated the usenet servers ACLs.
As you usually don't.

[#4]

Having a bad day avatastic?
We haven't introduced any new IP ranges. The most recent is the 146.199.0.0/16 subnet and that has now been added to the Giganews ACL.
As I have visibility of the IP the OP is posting from, I'm fairly sure that's what was causing the issue.

[#5]

Quote from: Bob

You don't need a username and password. You do need to be connected to the Plusnet network though. Looking at the IP you've posted from, I'm guessing you're not?

Hi.
I always use a VPN for Encryption and Security reasons when connected to the Internet. Is this the reason why Newsgroups do not work?
Thunderbird always asks me for a username and password with a pop up box but you are saying that one is not needed so I am wondering why this box appears? Due to the VPN? If so will using my plusnet username and password should allow me to access News even if I am still using VPN and coming from an outside IP address?
If not then there is no secure way of receiving news on plusnet so I will have to look at other news services?
Please advise and clarify.
John

[#6]

If you're using a VPN then yes, your IP address will not be recognised as one which is authorised to access PN's news server, and I don't believe they allow authenticated access for accessing it from outside their network.
You could define a manual route for the Plusnet news server so it didn't use the VPN, but how to do that is left as an exercise for the reader.