Imports System.Text
 
Dim text As String = "Hier steht Text"
Dim bytes() As Byte = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(text)
Dim sb As New StringBuilder()
 
For Each b In bytes
  sb.Append(Convert.ToString(b, 2))  ' Hier passiert die eigentliche Umwandlung 
  ' in Binärdarstellung
Next
 
Dim binaryString As String = sb.ToString()

Ralf