diff --git a/nilmdb/client/client.py b/nilmdb/client/client.py
index cb5c7d9..4e0d41a 100644
--- a/nilmdb/client/client.py
+++ b/nilmdb/client/client.py
@@ -127,10 +127,11 @@ class Client(object):
     @contextlib.contextmanager
     def stream_insert_context(self, path, start = None, end = None):
         """Return a context manager that allows data to be efficiently
-        inserted into a stream in a piecewise manner.  Data is be provided
-        as single lines, and is aggregated and sent to the server in larger
-        chunks as necessary.  Data lines must match the database layout for
-        the given path, and end with a newline.
+        inserted into a stream in a piecewise manner.  Data is be
+        provided as ASCII lines, and is aggregated and sent to the
+        server in larger chunks as necessary.  Data lines must match
+        the database layout for the given path, and end with a
+        newline.
 
         Example:
           with client.stream_insert_context('/path', start, end) as ctx:
@@ -142,15 +143,16 @@ class Client(object):
         This may make multiple requests to the server, if the data is
         large enough or enough time has passed between insertions.
         """
-        ctx = StreamInserter(self.http, path, start, end)
+        ctx = StreamInserter(self, path, start, end)
         yield ctx
         ctx.finalize()
 
     def stream_insert(self, path, data, start = None, end = None):
         """Insert rows of data into a stream.  data should be a string
         or iterable that provides ASCII data that matches the database
-        layout for path.  See stream_insert_context for details on the
-        'start' and 'end' parameters."""
+        layout for path.  Data is passed through stream_insert_context,
+        so it will be broken into reasonably-sized chunks and
+        timestamps will be deduced if missing."""
         with self.stream_insert_context(path, start, end) as ctx:
             if isinstance(data, basestring):
                 ctx.insert(data)
@@ -159,11 +161,28 @@ class Client(object):
                     ctx.insert(chunk)
         return ctx.last_response
 
+    def stream_insert_block(self, path, data, start, end, binary = False):
+        """Insert a single fixed block of data into the stream.  It is
+        sent directly to the server in one block with no further
+        processing.
+
+        If 'binary' is True, provide raw binary data in little-endian
+        format matching the path layout, including an int64 timestamp.
+        Otherwise, provide ASCII data matching the layout."""
+        params = {
+            "path": path,
+            "start": timestamp_to_string(start),
+            "end": timestamp_to_string(end),
+        }
+        if binary:
+            params["binary"] = 1
+        return self.http.put("stream/insert", data, params, binary = binary)
+
     def stream_intervals(self, path, start = None, end = None, diffpath = None):
         """
         Return a generator that yields each stream interval.
 
-        If diffpath is not None, yields only interval ranges that are
+        If 'diffpath' is not None, yields only interval ranges that are
         present in 'path' but not in 'diffpath'.
         """
         params = {
@@ -184,16 +203,16 @@ class Client(object):
         lines of ASCII-formatted data that matches the database
         layout for the given path.
 
-        Specify count = True to return a count of matching data points
+        If 'count' is True, return a count of matching data points
         rather than the actual data.  The output format is unchanged.
 
-        Specify markup = True to include comments in the returned data
+        If 'markup' is True, include comments in the returned data
         that indicate interval starts and ends.
 
-        Specify binary = True to return chunks of raw binary data,
-        rather than lines of ASCII-formatted data.  Raw binary data
-        is always little-endian and matches the database types
-        (including an int64 timestamp).
+        If 'binary' is True, return chunks of raw binary data, rather
+        than lines of ASCII-formatted data.  Raw binary data is
+        little-endian and matches the database types (including an
+        int64 timestamp).
         """
         params = {
             "path": path,
@@ -257,13 +276,13 @@ class StreamInserter(object):
     _max_data = 2 * 1024 * 1024
     _max_data_after_send = 64 * 1024
 
-    def __init__(self, http, path, start = None, end = None):
-        """'http' is the httpclient object.  'path' is the database
+    def __init__(self, client, path, start = None, end = None):
+        """'client' is the client object.  'path' is the database
         path to insert to.  'start' and 'end' are used for the first
         contiguous interval."""
         self.last_response = None
 
-        self._http = http
+        self._client = client
         self._path = path
 
         # Start and end for the overall contiguous interval we're
@@ -431,9 +450,7 @@ class StreamInserter(object):
             raise ClientError("have data to send, but no start/end times")
 
         # Send it
-        params = { "path": self._path,
-                   "start": timestamp_to_string(start_ts),
-                   "end": timestamp_to_string(end_ts) }
-        self.last_response = self._http.put("stream/insert", block, params)
+        self.last_response = self._client.stream_insert_block(
+            self._path, block, start_ts, end_ts, binary = False)
 
         return