lol.
yes, winamp works fine.

the issue is that windows media player DOES NOT SUPPORT mp3 streams.
so, it's a codec for sure.

question is, like it originally was, what's the codec/directshow filter reguired.

one nice thingie is that mplayerC can't play the stream either on that machine and gives the stream GUID.
when I click on the link to look for codec it gives me a page that sql debug output.
looking on the web gives dudes like me asking and folks answering similar answers. like "it must be you are missing ogg vorbis" or "you clearly don't have AAC filter" or "you have installed a codecpack. uninstall it and install this cooler one."

weird how hard it is to find real knowledge on these issues.