It sounds to me like you're using OSX right? Browse host is not always easy. It certainly helps if they have chat enabled. For some reason that seems to make browse easier. See
Direct Connect, ... as it has a section for Browse also.
BTW I've been meaning to add a sticky to both chat & browse host but ...
Sorry about the search function. The forums are having a server issue at the moment. Hopefully it will be sorted out within not too many weeks.