SpotLite Review

Last Updated: Jan 12, 2022

Rating
Price	Free
Features	Faster Than SpotNet
	Info on Usenet
	NZBSite Alternative
	Storage Usenet

Spotnet provides a way that you can get the content that you want from the USENET system without using NZB files. With so many NZB indexers being shut down, the protocol provides an alternative to having to hunt around for new indexers whenever you want to download content. The protocol is becoming very popular and is compatible with some of the best USENET service providers out there.

The latest version of SpotLite, version 2.0, was released in December 2011. While it would seem like an outdated program, it still is a good alternative to Usenet indexers and NZB sites. Please note, however, that the SpotLite website is no longer active. If you encounter sites that claim to have a newer version of SpotLite, do not trust it immediately. We recommend looking at Binaries4all for the latest information and news on the SpotLite program.

Spotnet vs SpotLite

Speed - Spotnet is slower than the faster SpotLite
Platforms - Both Spotnet and SpotLite runs on all (Win, Mac, Linux) Platforms
Read Only - SpotLite is read only - You can only view Spots versus SpotNet you can add Spots
Storage - Spot data is stored on Usenet with SpotLite and with Spotnet

The Basics

Spotnet articles show up in text groups. To read them, you’ll need one of the clients that works with the Spotnet protocol. Two of the most popular are Spotnet and SpotLite. These replace the FTD protocol.

SpotLite is the smaller, faster version of SpotNet. The program will need to connect to your USENET service provider to get the information about spots, which are kept on a USENET newsgroup instead of on a server. The setup is easy. Once you have it set up, you can use it to view spots and to get the content that you want. Once you get the information from the spot, you can use it to make your own NZB file. You can then use the NZB file to download the content using your Usenet newsreader or a downloader such as SABnzbd.

Spotnet is the more complex version. Currently, there aren’t any directions on how to use the program that are written in English, but the program should be something that more advanced USENET users can figure out. You may be able to navigate the extra features on Spotnet by using SpotLite first to get the basics down and then expand that knowledge to Spotnet.

Four Newsgroups to Take Advantage of Spots

There are four newsgroups that you’ll want to use to take advantage of spots. They include:

free.pt, the header group for spots
free.usenet is the comment group
free.willey is the reporting group for spots
alt.binaries.ftd is the NZB group for these posts

With Sickbeard

Sickbeard supports spots. To configure it, you can just add a spot site like a regular Newznab site. Go to the custom Newznab section and fill in the information required and Sickbeard will be able to work with this protocol, allowing you to keep on using the program that you’re accustomed to with the spot protocol.

Download SpotLite 2.0

Spots offer a nice alternative to NZB sites and may be more resilient.

Installation

Download SpotLite from reliable download websites.
Run the installer and select the language you prefer
Click on next on the welcome screen
Choose Install location
Complete the installation process and click on Finish
You can automatically run SpotLite when you’re done installing

Configuration

You would need to have access to a news server or subscribe to a pay server to be able to use SpotLite. When you open SpotLite for the first time, it will launch the configuration tab where you would have to enter your server address, username and password, enable SSL encryption, ports to be used and other configurable settings.

Once you’re done configuring, the SpotLite main screen will appear and new spots will automatically be fetched. Some parts of the user interface is also configurable and you can find this on the options menu.