This is the simple way of checking your IP via a PhP webpage.
Code:
Using wc As New Net.WebClient()
Dim url As String = "http://www.whatsmyip.us/showip.php"
Dim src As String = wc.DownloadString(url)
Dim myPublicIP As String = "Can't get it :("
Dim pattern As String = "\d{1,3}\.\d{1,3}\.\d{1,3}\.\d{1,3}"
Dim myIP As System.Text.RegularExpressions.Match = System.Text.RegularExpressions.Regex.Match(src, pattern)
If myIP IsNot Nothing Then
myPublicIP = myIP.Value
End If
MessageBox.Show(myPublicIP)
End Using
Enjoy