I read well,

[Registration Servers]
{
"24.174.184.4:5997"
}
[Login Servers]
{
"24.174.184.4:5997"
}

is equivalent to

[Registration Servers]
{
"eqlogin1.eqemulator.net:5997"
}
[Login Servers]
{
"eqlogin1.eqemulator.net:5997"
}

I got my eqhost.txt during the 'transition' when Hogie quit and before the DNS got updated.

Like I suggested, it was a local problem, to me, i.e. a couple of UK ISPs, I tried another and now I can connect.

I know a lot of people post on this board without reading, but I am, not one

No hard feelings, I hope