Hello Colin,
Check in the AmigaVendor forum for a program called AutoPilot. The
filename is AP.LHA. It will take care of all your forum needs including
downloading, and reading and writing messages.
For your initial download problems try using the CIS B+ or Quick B
protocols. If your Term program doesn't handle either of those I think
the only other alternative is xmodem. Hope this helps some.
-Sean