check your etc/metaservers file against docs/metaservers-HowTo,
set ERROR_LEVEL=9 in etc/sysdef (daemon notices change immediately) and tail -f var/ERRORS, looking for solicit references,
check with tcpdump port 3521 that packets are being sent to the metaservers,
test lib/tools/metaget metaserver.netrek.org to see if UDP is let through your infrastructure,
coordinate with metaserver owner to have them tail -f metalog at the same time.