Actually George what a lot of people didn't tell me is that Acknex actually already includes a very helpful function for this.
ftp_download(STRING* url, STRING* path, STRING* username, STRING* password)
best part of all it's free!!! I love using things that come with the engine as oppose to having on someone else.
Great work!
Also as for releasing updates/patches, everyone should check out wyday!
Gonna probably gonna add it to the wiki.