RTSP blocked by AT&T?
On an Android phone I installed the RTSP Camera Server. On a different Android device (and on a laptop) I installed the VLC Client.
When the phone is connected to WiFi (i.e. the IPs or all devices are on an internal network) streaming from the phone works perfectly.
When WiFi is off, i.e. on the mobile carrier's data network the VLC clients doesn't have access.
It is not a firewall issue because there isn't one on the Android RTSP Camera Server (and it would block on WiFi).
Switching ports on the RTSP Camera Server (and of course VLC) works on WiFi but not mobile.
The carrier is AT&T (US). Testing on Free (France) has the same issue.
1) Can someone confirm/deny that the mobile carriers block RTSP streaming from devices on their network?
2) What do you suggest as a workaround?
When the phone is connected to WiFi (i.e. the IPs or all devices are on an internal network) streaming from the phone works perfectly.
When WiFi is off, i.e. on the mobile carrier's data network the VLC clients doesn't have access.
It is not a firewall issue because there isn't one on the Android RTSP Camera Server (and it would block on WiFi).
Switching ports on the RTSP Camera Server (and of course VLC) works on WiFi but not mobile.
The carrier is AT&T (US). Testing on Free (France) has the same issue.
1) Can someone confirm/deny that the mobile carriers block RTSP streaming from devices on their network?
2) What do you suggest as a workaround?
ASKER
Thank you for your answer but it makes no sense to me.
1) How is an RTSP stream consuming more bandwidth or stressing the network more than a Facetime or Skype video session?
2) Once the allocated member data limit is reached, the operator first slows down bandwidth and eventually will cut off the customer. We are a long way from that in those initial tests.
At this stage I first need confirmation that indeed AT&T (and Free) is blocking specific network traffic, or content -- or that perhaps there is some other technical issue (Q1).
You make a valid point in Q2. But if indeed AT&T is content filtering (Q2), members of this forum should discuss whether or not it should be legitimate and answered.
1) How is an RTSP stream consuming more bandwidth or stressing the network more than a Facetime or Skype video session?
2) Once the allocated member data limit is reached, the operator first slows down bandwidth and eventually will cut off the customer. We are a long way from that in those initial tests.
At this stage I first need confirmation that indeed AT&T (and Free) is blocking specific network traffic, or content -- or that perhaps there is some other technical issue (Q1).
You make a valid point in Q2. But if indeed AT&T is content filtering (Q2), members of this forum should discuss whether or not it should be legitimate and answered.
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Finally, Facetime or Skype video session are using peer to peer technology which do not violate the acceptable use policy of your cellular service provider. Anyway, there is no reason that a cellular service provider will allow you to host a RSTP stream from their public IPs as it will create chaotic network traffic soon or later if every subscriber starts a RTSP stream from their mobile device.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3419952?start=0&tstart=0
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3419952?start=0&tstart=0
What is the difference in using WiFi from your own broadband?
The public IP address assigned to your wireless router is not floating in nature and the IP address might only change if you power off your router on prolong period and power on the router again whereas the public IP address of your android device will be floating as you move from one region to another and it makes no sense to the cellular service provider to allow this kind of traffic as in doing so, certain ports in their network infrastructure will need to open for responding to external request to route the traffic to your android device.
As long as you are using 3G or 4G service to host a streaming server (either by usb dongle or pocket wifi or just a smartphone), your external will never reach the server.
The public IP address assigned to your wireless router is not floating in nature and the IP address might only change if you power off your router on prolong period and power on the router again whereas the public IP address of your android device will be floating as you move from one region to another and it makes no sense to the cellular service provider to allow this kind of traffic as in doing so, certain ports in their network infrastructure will need to open for responding to external request to route the traffic to your android device.
As long as you are using 3G or 4G service to host a streaming server (either by usb dongle or pocket wifi or just a smartphone), your external will never reach the server.
ASKER
Thank you for the link, it indeed describes a push to a streaming server from which clients can view the camera of the mobile.
Restrictions based on concurrent connections does make sense but why block *all* incoming connections when limiting to one would be sufficient?
It is not all fun and games on mobiles, there are use cases for device-to-device streaming... the "violations" cast an unnecessarily restrictive net.
Restrictions based on concurrent connections does make sense but why block *all* incoming connections when limiting to one would be sufficient?
It is not all fun and games on mobiles, there are use cases for device-to-device streaming... the "violations" cast an unnecessarily restrictive net.
If you stand from the cellular service provider's view, you will know how difficult to implement your request.
If you are cellular service provider and you allow everyone to do RSTP streaming server on their devices, the data centre of cellular service provider will need to update the realtime routing map of each subscriber (port, public IP address) and the info will be changing as the device is not on a fixed location.
There are custom made solution but you have to make a deal with your cellular service provider that your device is not moving at all and a special incoming port assigned to you only. Of course, the monthly fee that you have to pay is comparable to a fixed broadband line.
If you are cellular service provider and you allow everyone to do RSTP streaming server on their devices, the data centre of cellular service provider will need to update the realtime routing map of each subscriber (port, public IP address) and the info will be changing as the device is not on a fixed location.
There are custom made solution but you have to make a deal with your cellular service provider that your device is not moving at all and a special incoming port assigned to you only. Of course, the monthly fee that you have to pay is comparable to a fixed broadband line.
What can be done to make it work?
There are many IP cameras in China which only use 3G or 4G SIM to connect to the Internet but the users can remotely see the view captured by such IP cameras.
How?
On every IP camera, there is a hardware level DDNS client which will try to connect to the free DDNS server provided by the manufacturer of the IP camera whenever it is powered on and connected to the Internet via 3G or 4G.
Then, the users just connect to the DDNS server after inputting the credentials of their DDNS account and streaming can be made via the public IP address of the DDNS server.
There are many IP cameras in China which only use 3G or 4G SIM to connect to the Internet but the users can remotely see the view captured by such IP cameras.
How?
On every IP camera, there is a hardware level DDNS client which will try to connect to the free DDNS server provided by the manufacturer of the IP camera whenever it is powered on and connected to the Internet via 3G or 4G.
Then, the users just connect to the DDNS server after inputting the credentials of their DDNS account and streaming can be made via the public IP address of the DDNS server.
I have tried my best to explain to you about the restriction from common sense and very limited networking knowledge.
Unless I can get into a career in cellular service provider, I can message you privately on how the restriction is deployed.
Unless I can get into a career in cellular service provider, I can message you privately on how the restriction is deployed.
ASKER
Thank you for your additional technical details, most informative.
My suggestion would be to a) limit to one connection and now additionally b) do not update real time routing maps.
So no "Go Pro" peer-to-peer streaming whilst driving down the road... the streaming would simply drop.
But there are plenty more practical use cases where the device is either not moving at all, or very little and slowly (e.g. on foot) within a small radius (apartment, street corner).
My suggestion would be to a) limit to one connection and now additionally b) do not update real time routing maps.
So no "Go Pro" peer-to-peer streaming whilst driving down the road... the streaming would simply drop.
But there are plenty more practical use cases where the device is either not moving at all, or very little and slowly (e.g. on foot) within a small radius (apartment, street corner).
Understand but I have no idea on how you can bypass the restriction, sorry.
Normally, mobile operators will restrict the usage in the use case of a server as it is very likely that your server will lead to network congestion for other customers.
For example, the WIRELESS CUSTOMER AGREEMENT of AT&T reads as follows:-
AT&T's wireless data services may not be used in any manner that has the effect of excessively contributing to network congestion, hindering other customers' access to the network, or degrading network performance by maintaining a sustained and continuous wireless data service connection or active wireless Internet connection. For example, this includes, but is not limited to, server devices or host computer applications such as continuous Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, or automated machine-to-machine connections; "auto-responders," "cancel-bots," or similar automated or manual routines that generate excessive amounts of traffic or that disrupt user groups or email use by others; use of the service as a substitute or backup for private lines or full-time or dedicated data connections; peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing services; and software or other devices that maintain continuous active Internet connections when a connection would otherwise be idle or any "keep alive" functions, unless they adhere to AT&T data retry requirements (as may be modified from time to time).
Source: https://m.att.com/shopmobile/legal/terms.wirelessCustomerAgreement.html
Q2 Answer
In short, you need to contact the mobile operator and pay for a high fee for data retry requirements so as to remove the restriction. But, if your 3G/4G subscription is billed on a flat rate, your mobile operator will NOT entertain you for sure, Besides, I do not think that you can get passed the restriction from your mobile operator and such discussions are prohibited in this forum.
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/28967757/server-internet.html