Help, fsockopen() and binary data

To whom it may concern, I am seeking insight to problem that I am having with the fsockopen() function. I open the file pointer with the function without a problem. I am expecting binary information to come back. All of the binary information is being read when I know file size in advance. I want to code the php script in such a way that I do not need to know file size in advance. It hangs up when I try to read everything. I have tried fpassthru(), fread() and copied contents to a buffer with a block size, I have turned blocking off. Thanks in advance for any insight or advice, Lance