Shoutcast 2.0 stats file read by python pauses for 5 sec each read

[ProducerMike]

I'm writing some simple python code to read the stats.xml file from a Shoutcast 2.0 server which I have on a test network. Each time the python script attempts to read the file it pauses for 5 seconds.

Python 2.6.5 on Ubuntu or Python 2.7.3 on Raspberry Pi Shoutcast 2.0.0.29 on Windows 7 - 64Bit

Using Urllib2

code:
import urllib2

statsfile = urllib2.urlopen('http://10.46.0.43:8000/stats?sid=1')

This will read the file but causes a 5 second pause in program execution. Almost like a timeout. I have tried this on both a raspberry pi and also a Ubuntu box. The same happens if I run it as a python program or entering commands in the python cli.

The stats.xml is correctly read and transferred it's just the pause that's causing the problem.

I have also copied the stats.xml file to an IIS server and the python script runs fine reading the file from there.

I have also tried urllib.urlretrieve which produces the same result.

This is on a small test network so I don't believe it is bandwidth. I am using a IP address to rule out DNS issues. It is 100% reproducible. I have rebuilt the Windows 7/Shoutcast server and am still getting the issue.

Any good ideas, anyone?

Thanks in advance

ProducerMike