LinuxQuestions.org - belkin usb > serial port adapter > external dialup modem -- no authentication

I got a Belkin f5u103 usb > serial port adapter because it is Linux compatible and I needed a way to connect with dialup with my lappy and an external dialup modem. Lappy is a Compaq Presario with 512mb ram, 60gb drive and 1.6ghz cpu running Fedora Core 10 and no serial port. I have a fledgling business I conduct over the internet and I want a backup system in case something happens to my desktop.
The kernel is 2.6.27.9-159.fc10.i686. It recognizes the adapter fine, assigns it to /dev/ttyUSB0, which I put in my /etc/ppp/options file and when I start pppd everything goes well until it starts the authentification. Well, see for yourself, here's some of /var/log/messages:
Feb 23 22:09:55 server pppd[17012]: pppd 2.4.4 started by root, uid 0
Feb 23 22:09:55 server pppd[17012]: Using interface ppp0
Feb 23 22:09:55 server pppd[17012]: local IP address 10.64.64.64
Feb 23 22:09:55 server pppd[17012]: remote IP address 10.112.112.112
Feb 23 22:09:57 server pppd[17012]: Starting link
Feb 23 22:09:58 server chat[17021]: timeout set to 40 seconds
Feb 23 22:09:58 server chat[17021]: abort on (NO CARRIER)
Feb 23 22:09:58 server chat[17021]: abort on (NO DIALTONE)
Feb 23 22:09:58 server chat[17021]: abort on (ERROR)
Feb 23 22:09:58 server chat[17021]: abort on (NO ANSWER)
Feb 23 22:09:58 server chat[17021]: abort on (BUSY)
Feb 23 22:09:58 server chat[17021]: abort on (Username/Password Incorrect)
Feb 23 22:09:58 server chat[17021]: send (atz^M)
Feb 23 22:09:58 server chat[17021]: expect (OK)
Feb 23 22:09:59 server chat[17021]: atz^M^M
Feb 23 22:09:59 server chat[17021]: OK
Feb 23 22:09:59 server chat[17021]: -- got it
Feb 23 22:09:59 server chat[17021]: send (atm0^M)
Feb 23 22:09:59 server chat[17021]: expect (OK)
Feb 23 22:09:59 server chat[17021]: ^M
Feb 23 22:09:59 server chat[17021]: atm0^M^M
Feb 23 22:09:59 server chat[17021]: OK
Feb 23 22:09:59 server chat[17021]: -- got it
Feb 23 22:09:59 server chat[17021]: send (atS0=0^M)
Feb 23 22:09:59 server chat[17021]: expect (OK)
Feb 23 22:09:59 server chat[17021]: ^M
Feb 23 22:09:59 server chat[17021]: atS0=0^M^M
Feb 23 22:09:59 server chat[17021]: OK
Feb 23 22:09:59 server chat[17021]: -- got it
Feb 23 22:09:59 server chat[17021]: send (atdt5476658^M)
Feb 23 22:09:59 server chat[17021]: expect (CONNECT)
Feb 23 22:09:59 server chat[17021]: ^M
Feb 23 22:10:19 server chat[17021]: atdt5476658^M^M
Feb 23 22:10:19 server chat[17021]: CONNECT
Feb 23 22:10:19 server chat[17021]: -- got it
Feb 23 22:10:19 server pppd[17012]: Serial connection established.
Feb 23 22:10:19 server pppd[17012]: Connect: ppp0 <--> /dev/ttyUSB0
Feb 23 22:10:50 server pppd[17012]: LCP: timeout sending Config-Requests
Feb 23 22:10:50 server pppd[17012]: Connection terminated.

I did several searches several different ways here and with Google and after MUCH reading I am still unable to get past this point. I have tried several mods to /etc/ppp/options like "passive" and others trying to get it to work but it doesn't seem to be communicating with the peer. I have checked permissions on the pap-secrets file and they are rw-------.
Is it possible I need a null modem cable for the connection between adapter > modem? And what is LCP? The manual for pppd is vague on this and other things, like how to make debugging more verbose. Any help would be greatly appreciated.