SmartFTP & sp2 firewall

Smartftp is included in my windows firewall exceptions yet when I log on to the ftp site I get this message:

257 "/" is current directory.
TYPE A
200 Type set to A
PORT 24,189,***,**,7,196
200 PORT command successful
Opening data connection IP: 24.189.***.** PORT: 1988.
LIST -aL
Connection closed. Server timeout.

And I cannot connect. yet when I disable windows firewall, smartFTP works fine. at every command the port changes to the next # ie:1988 then 1989 and so on. i feel this could be the problem but i am not sure. Like I said before SmartFTP is checked in the exceptions of windows firewall. I have tried to change the passive and active ports & that had no effect. Anyone have a solution?