WebBrowser control connects but httpRequest does not! Why is it different?

Using VB.Net

I have a form, user, password, url. A multiline tex box to show html source, a web browser control to show html ( mainly to prove connection is possible.)

I try to requst a page from my webserver which has basic authentication set, user Test,  pwd Test.

The webserver is onboard a network input output module

When the browser connects a dialog pops up. i enter the credentials and click ok. The web server sends the correct page.

When using the request method i get disconnected during the GetResponse. What is the web browser control doing that i am not Code included:

If the webbrowser can do it then surely i can

web server: ( not a static ip, but shold be alright for a few days!)

http://88.144.5.146

user: test

pwd: test

Imports system.net
Imports System.IO;

Public Class frmgetHTTP
Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As
System.EventArgs) Handles btnGo.Click
tbResults.Text = getHTTP(tbURL.Text) ' disconnects during GetResponse
WebBrowser1.Navigate(tbURL.Text) ' works, dialog shows
End Sub

Private Function getHTTP(ByVal url As String)
Dim httpRequest As HttpWebRequest
Dim httpResponse As HttpWebResponse
Dim bodytext As String = ""
Dim responseStream As Stream
Dim bytes As Int32
Dim RecvBytes(Byte.MaxValue) As Byte
Try
httpRequest = CType(WebRequest.Create(url), HttpWebRequest)
httpRequest.Credentials = New NetworkCredential(tbUser.Text, tbPWD.Text)
httpResponse = CType(httpRequest.GetResponse, HttpWebResponse)
responseStream = httpResponse.GetResponseStream()
Do While (True)
   bytes = responseStream.Read(RecvBytes, 0, RecvBytes.Length)
   If bytes <= 0 Then Exit Do
   bodytext += System.Text.Encoding.UTF8.GetString(RecvBytes, 0, bytes)
Loop

Catch webExcp As WebException
 MessageBox.Show(webExcp.Message)
Catch ex As Exception

End Try

Return bodytext

End Function

End Class