FTP Hosting Problems with Dynamic IP

[TheAlex]

In the past week or so I'm having problems connecting to my hosting account via FTP. It'll take ages to connect, time out, or not connect at all. I can be connected, but files won't upload/download, or will only partly upload (so ruining my website for an hour in the case of a CSS file that didn't fully upload earlier).

When Vidahost allow my IP, it works fine, until I restart my PC and my IP has changed. I can't get a static IP with my ISP either, as they only offer them for business accounts.

I've never had this problem before, and I've had a dynamic IP for as long as I've used the Internet (early 2000s). Vidahost support have told me they can't tell me why it happens, as there's no clear reason. So every time I want to connect, I have to contact them with my IP, so they can allow it. I've been with Vidahost for a few years now and I haven't had a problem connecting via FTP until recently.

Is this common? Does anyone know what could be causing it?

 

[TheAlex]

Have you got the log from your FTP client?

This sort of thing (some bits asterisked out)?

Status:    Resolving address of ***.***.***
Status:    Connecting to ****...
Status:    Connection established, waiting for welcome message...
Status:    Initializing TLS...
Status:    Verifying certificate...
Status:    TLS connection established.
Status:    Logged in
Status:    Retrieving directory listing...
Command:    PWD
Response:    257 "/" is your current location
Command:    TYPE I
Response:    200 TYPE is now 8-bit binary
Command:    PASV
Response:    227 Entering Passive Mode (to ****)
Command:    MLSD
Error:    The data connection could not be established: ETIMEDOUT - Connection attempt timed out
Error:    Connection timed out after 60 seconds of inactivity
Error:    Failed to retrieve directory listing

 

[TheAlex]

Thanks for the replies - it's mysteriously started working fine again, but I'll refer to the above if the problems reoccur.