Help Streaming media and the Tyrrany of the Sprint Proxies

[EarlyMon]

So - for those new to this issue:

Streaming media involving RTSP (real-time streaming protocol) or fast timing thru HTTP are impacted by the fact that these phones come configured to send ALL traffic through proxies for each.

Services affected are Sirius/XM, winamp streaming (sorry, forgot the name), Pandora (depending on user/version) and many others.

Your existing settings are:

• RTSP proxy IP = rtsp.vog.sprintpcs.com
• RTSP proxy port = 554
• HTTP proxy IP = pd.vog.sprintpcs.com
• HTTP proxy port = 8085

What is pd proxy?

Virtual Private Network (VPN) & Premium Socks/HTTP Proxies - www.pdproxy.com


And what you want to do to fix this requires a nifty little thing called your MSL code, where MSL = Master Subsidy Lock.

Once you have that:

1. Dial ##3282# (also known as ##DATA#)
2. Choose Edit Mode (note: you can enter View Mode at this point without an MSL, it's quite harmless)
3. Enter MSL
4. Choose Advanced
5. Change RTSP proxy IP to: 0.0.0.0
6. Change RTSP proxy port to: 0
7. Change HTTP proxy IP to: 0.0.0.0
8. Change HTTP proxy port to: 0

There are three ways to get your MSL code:

• Call Sprint tech support, if they won't give it, call back and try another tech
• Root and use MSL Reader
• Use CDMA Workshop as found on XDA

There is one alternative to this fix:

• Call Sprint tech support, tell them that streaming media issues are a known issue for them and that you want it solved OTA while you wait. Their techs can access those settings on your phone and change them - but they may only do one or the other.

In addition to making streaming music work, this has been beneficial in getting smoother YouTube playback with less buffering.

In fact, so far as I recall, everyone bypassing their proxies got better web response across the board.

Caveats:

1. Sprint may warn you this is non-standard and may be harmful. That's total baloney. They simply don't want to liable for anything you do once you're free on the web - you know, the way you are on your laptop.
2. Deciding to fiddle around with anything besides those settings listed above can only be described as idiotic - unless you like breaking your phone possibly beyond repair. Got your attention? Ok, sorry to be rude, but now you're srsly warned.
3. This WILL cause Sprint TV, live channels, to stop working.

Otherwise this is a totally way cool thing to do - and it will not void your warranty, don't listen to that noise if you find it.

Important note - you're under the tyranny of the Sprint proxy servers regardless if you're using 3G, 4G, or Wi-Fi for your connection.

Hope this helps!


By the way:

Hi Guys. I'm having an issue with sirius, slacker, pandora and Rhapsody where it will only stream over wifi for a few minutes, then stop for several seconds then restart and stop again. Oddly, I can stream over 3g without a problem. Can anyone offer any guidance on things I might check out? Thanks for your help

You are experiencing EXACTLY the symptoms that can be cured by the instructions in the OP.

Call Sprint, tech support - tell them you have the known media streaming issue and either ask for your MSL code (so you can follow the procedure above) - or ask them to apply their known fix to your configuration to this while you wait on the phone.

Also - as your 3G seems to work, is your way of not working 4G or wifi? If 4G, could be building penetration issues or latency issues on the connection - that's unique to your area. If the problem's on wifi, suggest getting WiFi Analyzer (free, Market) and checking to make sure your wifi is not on the same channel as a nearby neighbor - that can cause all sorts of silly (as in not immediately easy to diagnose) problems that are easily solved by a simple router config change.

But - if you're using those services, you want this fix, because it's not if, it's for when you start having these problems on 3G.

~~~~

Caveat: At the time of this edit, two users here found this approach to be detrimental. That's exactly why I've posted the original settings, so you can revert. While this approach is known to work on Sprint phones for the overwhelming number of users to date, some question if this is right for the 3vo - http://androidforums.com/htc-evo-3d/361521-streaming-media-tyrrany-sprint-proxies-2.html#post2895571

The majority reports here are in favor - but - there seems to be some controversy on this working for all users.

The original settings are posted here so you can try it both ways.

 

[momoceio]

Possibly another method for retrieving MSL...I've used this successfully when I was running 2.1 but haven't tried since. It may still work on 2.3.

[GUIDE] Easy way to get MSL without calling Sprint, using CMDA Workshop, OR ROOT!! - xda-developers

 

[EarlyMon]

Hmmm. They shut that out with Froyo on the Evo, but I guess it's worth a shot.

 

[thelonewizard]

Would it be easier to wait for the root method?

 

[EarlyMon]

I probably will. I'm not super-dependent on streaming media, and have lots of learning, configuring and so forth to march through first.

But for those not sure of rooting, for any reason, do yourself a favor, get your MSL code from Sprint, and go for it.

 

[cobalt]

So this is totally fascinating to me; first I've heard of them setting you up on a proxy by default. Obviously, there's a lot of reasons they could be doing this; proxies can improve performance through caching, or obfuscate IPs like TOR to protect you from "bad guys", or the converse: be the bad guy and track everything you do. Obvious downside you can't get around would be anything not feasibly cacheable (like streaming media) would take a performance hit.

But any ideas why Sprint is doing it?

(Also: was winamp streaming maybe shoutcast? I associate the two, but don't remember for sure.)

 

[marctronixx]

i think sprint have been doing this since Vision was turned on. the Aircards also are setup to go thru a different gateway.. or they used to (dont use aircards anymore but do have a novatel mifi). its one way that can track what device is using their network...

 

[EarlyMon]

^This. +1

So this is totally fascinating to me; first I've heard of them setting you up on a proxy by default. Obviously, there's a lot of reasons they could be doing this; proxies can improve performance through caching, or obfuscate IPs like TOR to protect you from "bad guys", or the converse: be the bad guy and track everything you do. Obvious downside you can't get around would be anything not feasibly cacheable (like streaming media) would take a performance hit.

But any ideas why Sprint is doing it?

(Also: was winamp streaming maybe shoutcast? I associate the two, but don't remember for sure.)

As soon as I found out, I guessed that added up to one thing - controlling traffic.

We're on unlimited data, so I think they don't care about us bypassing it, it just gets rid of issues for them.

Promise there's no performance advantage (quite the opposite) or IP obfuscating whatsoever.

Wait until you see how quickly text pages alone load without it.

And yes, I seem to recall that shoutcast is impacted somehow - basically, we've got a LOT of posts in the Evo forum, several more in the Shift forum, extolling its virtues.

I guess when I cared about the details, I recalled better - basically I'm at the point of just knowing it's bad and not good to have go thru their proxies.

 

[zanda61]

Hi Guys. I'm having an issue with sirius, slacker, pandora and Rhapsody where it will only stream over wifi for a few minutes, then stop for several seconds then restart and stop again. Oddly, I can stream over 3g without a problem. Can anyone offer any guidance on things I might check out? Thanks for your help

 

[EarlyMon]

Welcome to the forums! (oops! ummm Welcome to your first post! )

You are experiencing EXACTLY the symptoms that can be cured by the instructions in the OP.

Call Sprint, tech support - tell them you have the known media streaming issue and either ask for your MSL code (so you can follow the procedure above) - or ask them to apply their known fix to your configuration to this while you wait on the phone.

Also - as your 3G seems to work, is your way of not working 4G or wifi? If 4G, could be building penetration issues or latency issues on the connection - that's unique to your area. If the problem's on wifi, suggest getting WiFi Analyzer (free, Market) and checking to make sure your wifi is not on the same channel as a nearby neighbor - that can cause all sorts of silly (as in not immediately easy to diagnose) problems that are easily solved by a simple router config change.

But - if you're using those services, you want this fix, because it's not if, it's for when you start having these problems on 3G.

 

[cobalt]

i think sprint have been doing this since Vision was turned on. [....] its one way that can track what device is using their network...

As soon as I found out, I guessed that added up to one thing - controlling traffic.

Thanks, both. Much appreciated! (Opera Mini is the one shining example of how a proxy -- in their case a compression server proxy -- could improve performance. It made my Samsung Moment usable! I wasn't seriously pretending Sprint's usage of a proxy might offer similar benefits, of course.)

Given your insights, I'd agree: I can't see ANY reason to leave the proxies on. As soon as it's convenient to call, we've got root, or I run into problems, I'll be disabling the proxy.

 

[lafester]

Just used the cdma workshop method to obtain msl. worked great and hopefully now my slingplayer will stream a little better. will be testing tomorrow

 

[thelonewizard]

I think I'll just wait for root. Either that, or if I get REALLY bored tomorrow, I'll call up Sprint and ask for it, but I'm not sure how they'd react to a 16 year old asking for such obscure info. haha

 

[Jackietreehorn]

I think I'll just wait for root. Either that, or if I get REALLY bored tomorrow, I'll call up Sprint and ask for it, but I'm not sure how they'd react to a 16 year old asking for such obscure info. haha

Don't know why they should care about the age, but w/e. Not gonna lie though, I'd laugh if they called you on it (because again, what difference would it make???) I've never tried just calling and asking, think I might do so as well.

 

[Android 17]

This is still an issue with the EVO 4G too, which really sucks. You can change it via Sense, but as far as I know, AOSP users are still out of luck, it doesn't retain the settings.

I imagine it will be the same on the 3D when some choose to install AOSP ROMS in the future.

 

[PyroSporker]

I'm very glad we are revising this thread from the Evo 4G forum since this method works so well. This walk through is much easier to read and makes good sense. Definitely FAQ material.

I might be alone in this opinion but the only problem I see might be the thread title. While I find it a fun, creative, and entertaining thread title, I'm not sure that it is the best name to reach out to new comers or others with streaming problems. Even the aptly name thread for this in the Evo 4G forum got overlooked much of the time. I don't have any better ideas for names though that is the problem. Maybe we should pick something that will jump out at people that need help?

One other quick question. Is the MSL # handset specific? I'm assuming it is different for every different phone. I'm just curious because I went through the hassle to get the MSL for my Evo 4G and thought maybe it should be an assigned number to your account, that way I don't have to jump through hoops to get it again.

 

[marctronixx]

Pyro, if you have a better name or would like to suggest a better name, send EM a PM offline and discuss. for me i knew exactly what EM was talking about, however I have been around the block a few times.. others may not have..

yes each MSL is different.. think MAC address..

 

[PyroSporker]

Pyro, if you have a better name or would like to suggest a better name, send EM a PM offline and discuss. for me i knew exactly what EM was talking about, however I have been around the block a few times.. others may not have..

yes each MSL is different.. think MAC address..

It sucks I've got no good ideas that don't sound cheesy. I'm not trying to cause any dissension, maybe someone else can come up with something good. Yeah, we've been around so we knew what he meant, but I fear some of the fresh faces might not.

 

[EarlyMon]

Everyone's an art critic! - just kidding -

I chose the title based on past experience. I've found if the services are described in the title, people will ignore and create a thread for another service. If you have multiple services in the title, then people tend to ask if a generic solution is really ok - I think you'll find that happened in the Evo and the Shift forums.

So, I chose something that I thought might be fun and provocative while also attempting to be descriptive. I'm open to suggestions.

 

[zanda61]

Hey Earlymon, thanks so much for the help. I'm not having issues with 3g streaming but can't seem to keep a consistant connection on wifi. I took your advice and installed the wifi analyzer and noticed that I was on the same channel (6) as everyone else in the neighborhood. I changed the channel to 11 and I'm hoping that will speed things up for my wireless network in general. I'm still having the streaming problem (over wifi) however. The weird thing is that if the screen is on (I'm using the phone while streaming music) it holds the connection just fine. When I turn the screen off the stream may play for a minute longer and will drop, then reconnect after 30 seconds or so. This is very odd. I'm coming from an EVO 4g and never had this issue before (well I had the proxy issue back in December but used the fix and that worked ). I was thinking it's some sort of power saving setting but can't seem to find anything that I can change regarding the wifi's power behavior.

 

[EarlyMon]

Crazy!

OK, how about a workaround?

Wi-Fi Keep Alive | Shantanu's Technophilic Musings

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.shantz.wifikeepalive

 

[zanda61]

Crazy indeed . Well I tried the keep alive app and that was a no go so I did an experiment where I set the phone to keep it's display on continually started up slacker and just set the phone gently on my desk with the screen on. After three songs, not one hiccup. Then I pressed the power button to turn the screen off and bang... after about 10 secs...no music. Is anyone else having an issue with streaming over wifi? Maybe a hard reset is in order here....then maybe a call to sprint....then maybe sadness. by the way, I love the title of this thread.

 

[EarlyMon]

I recall discussing not letting wifi sleep on the Evo but can't find the setting for that. I can't recall - maybe we were discussing some particular app?

 

[zanda61]

Thanks for hanging in there with me. I was getting a weird force stop message that seemed to reference Pandora so I deleted that app thinking that it might be the culprit. No luck there. So then I tried turning off the bluetooth radio and my bluetooth stereo headset and plugged in a wired stereo headset. This setup seems to work just fine.

Just as a test I unpaired my bluetooth stereo headset and then repaired it but had the same issue with stopping. Then I tried another bluetooth stereo headset and got the same issue. I recall having this issue with an HTC Touch Pro so I just got used to streaming things over 3g. I chalked the problem up to interference of some sort between the bluetooth and wifi radios. I'm curious to know if anyone else is having issues with streaming music over wifi while using a bluetooth stereo headset.

 

[thelonewizard]

Just to be sure, once you got your MSL code and you go into the RTSP/HTTP settings, the referenced "PD addreses" on the list are named "RTSP proxy IP" correct?