got my modem working...BUT...
 

I connect to my isp, enter my login name, enter my password , both accepted. I get an ip adress but when I start netscape and try to go surfing it keeps telling me the server could not be found.
After alot of work I found a binary driver for my linmodem and kernel but rhppp still wouldn't work. For some reason kppp works but only when terminal based, which I'm prepared to live with.
I log on through the terminal and connect to the isp, when I pick up the phone I can hear the usual white noise. But there the adventure ends. Is netscape still trying to connect through an unused port? Do I need to create a symlink or something and if so how do I do that?
BTW Thanks to everyone who has replied to my whinges so far. If it wasn't for this forum I suspect the CDs would be in the bin and my pc would have one big partition again!
You're the greatest.

once connected, can you ping ip addresses or websites... that should be a good indication if your connected or not...
could be a dns problem after being connected.