I don't know where the knoppix hackers hang, but I try to browse
comp.os.linux.portable
comp.os.linux.hardware
comp.os.linux.networking

I have seen people getting help using knoppix in those groups now and again, so I'd guess those are good starting points.

To the poster mixing irc and usenet... *tsk* *tsk* =)

Here's some pointers introducing this holy graal of internet:
http://catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/U/Usenet.html
http://www.ibiblio.org/usenet-i/usenet-help.html

HTH, HAND