Well...I never
 

I have never used a news group. Can you give me a brief run down on how they work?

A good place to start is Google. Try the Google Groups homepage at http://groups.google.com/. They also have a good FAQ on the basics at http://www.google.com/googlegroups/basics.html.
You can view newsgroups through web portals like Google, but if you spend any amount of time in them or download lots of attachments (binaries), you'll want to use a newsgroup reader. In Windows, Outlook Express can be used for newsgroups as well as email. On the Mac, try the freeware MT-NewsWatcher, or if you have Microsoft Office you can use Entourage.

My ISP Comcast hasn't picked up the server. Anyone know a free news server that has the HDV group??

Thanks, Murph