I've been using the php ftp functions pretty extensively at work. We've recently discovered that some of the ftp servers we connect to, paticularly in Europe, are using extended passive mode. On a server using extended passive mode the php ftp functions will timeout. For those of you who encounter this, the solution is to send the command:
ftp_exec (conn_id, 'epsv4 off' );
Do this immediately after ftp_login and you should be fine.