NewsBin requires that you have access to an NNTP News Server.  AOL does not provide an NNTP News Server but NewsBin can go through AOL to get to a commercial news server.

MSN does provide an NNTP News Server but does not support standard authentication.  A future release of NewsBin will support MSN but as of version 4.04, MSN is not supported.

Here are two options:  One is to sign up with a commercial news server.  NewsBin users can get a small discount when signing up with UsenetServer.  It is $14.45 per month for 20GB of news per day if you enter "Newsbin" for the Coupon Code on their order page.

The other option is to use an "Open" news server.  Below are a few links to websites and to a shareware program called Server Hound that will help you find open (free) servers to use with NewsBin.  NOTE:   These news servers are not  maintained as well as commercial servers and are sometimes more trouble than they are worth.  Check the "Status Messages" screen in NewsBin frequently to determine if errors with the news server are occurring.

Server Hound will systematically search through newsgroups routing out new free and open servers which it will then attempt to log into and will report back to you the number of articles that are present in each group.

Server Hound main features:

* Searches the Internet for Open / Free News Servers *

* Reads the newsgroups and finds brand new servers *

* Program "Learns" and tests faster servers dropping slower ones *

* Program configures itself to your geographic location *

* Fully configurable*

* Works even from only one initial News Server *