diff --git a/examples/live.py b/examples/live.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8b43b7a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/live.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+import json
+import time
+import sondehub
+
+interval = 5
+msgs = 0
+elapsed = 0
+starttime = 0
+log = True
+
+def on_msg(*args):
+    global msgs
+    msgs +=1
+
+def on_connect(*args):
+    print("on_connect:", *args)
+
+def on_disconnect(*args):
+    print("on_disconnect:", *args)
+
+def on_log(*args):
+    if log:
+        print(f"on_log:", *args)
+
+sh  = sondehub.Stream(on_message=on_msg,
+                      on_disconnect=on_disconnect,
+                      on_log=on_log,
+                      on_connect=on_connect);
+while True:
+    time.sleep(interval)
+    print(f"tick {msgs=}")
+    msgs = 0
diff --git a/sondehub/__init__.py b/sondehub/__init__.py
index 7e62889..22deb63 100644
--- a/sondehub/__init__.py
+++ b/sondehub/__init__.py
@@ -15,12 +15,21 @@ S3_BUCKET = "sondehub-open-data"
 
 
 class Stream:
-    def __init__(self, sondes: list = ["#"], on_connect=None, on_message=None):
+    def __init__(self,
+                 sondes: list = ["#"],
+                 on_connect=None,
+                 on_message=None,
+                 on_log=None,
+                 on_disconnect=None, asJson=False):
         self.mqttc = mqtt.Client(transport="websockets")
         self._sondes = sondes
-        self.ws_connect()
+        self.asJson = asJson
         self.on_connect = on_connect
         self.on_message = on_message
+        self.on_disconnect = on_disconnect
+        self.on_log = on_log
+        self.ws_connect()
+
 
     def add_sonde(self, sonde):
         if sonde not in self._sondes:
@@ -53,10 +62,11 @@ class Stream:
             self.mqttc.tls_set()
         except ValueError:
             pass
-        self.mqttc.connect(urlparts.netloc, 443, 60)
+        try:
+            self.mqttc.connect(urlparts.netloc, 443, 60)
+        except OSError:
+            pass
         self.mqttc.loop_start()
-        for sonde in self._sondes:
-            self.add_sonde(sonde)
 
     def get_url(self):
         conn = http.client.HTTPSConnection("api.v2.sondehub.org")
@@ -67,16 +77,31 @@ class Stream:
 
     def _on_message(self, mqttc, obj, msg):
         if self.on_message:
-            self.on_message(json.loads(msg.payload))
+            if self.asJson:
+                self.on_message(msg.payload)
+            else:
+                self.on_message(json.loads(msg.payload))
 
     def _on_connect(self, mqttc, obj, flags, rc):
+        for sonde in self._sondes:
+            self.add_sonde(sonde)
         if mqtt.MQTT_ERR_SUCCESS != rc:
             self.ws_connect()
         if self.on_connect:
-            self.on_connect()
+            self.on_connect(mqttc, obj, flags, rc)
+
+    def _on_log(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        if self.on_log:
+            self.on_log(*args, **kwargs)
 
     def _on_disconnect(self, client, userdata, rc):
-        self.ws_connect()
+        try:
+            self.ws_connect()
+        except OSError:
+            pass
+
+        if self.on_disconnect:
+            self.on_disconnect(client, userdata, rc)
 
     def __exit__(self, type, value, traceback):
         self.mqttc.disconnect()