Connection closed server time-out

Lately we do have a problem with smartftp, and also other ftp programs, that we receive the above mentioned message.

I wonder if it might have something to do with Windows XP SP2 or firewalls .

But also when i close the firewall I get this message.

I use the ftp to transfer mij homepages, the problems occur with chello as wel as planet, could someone explain or help me with this.

This problem occured only last month, we use smartftp for quit some time now

does the problem only occur with one particular server? if so, and smartftp works with other servers (try ftp.smartftp.com), it's most likely not a firewall issue, but the server you're trying to reach simply is down.