I have managed to get connected up to my ISP. Here's the commands I used:
/usr/bin/rp3-config
/usr/bin/rp3
/usr/bin/wvdialconf create

Then I edited /etc/wvdial.conf and added my ISP phone number, my username and password.

I typed /usr/bin/wvdial

The connection appeared to be underway

Now I see a bunch of messages, but nothing that is worrisome

Then I have a flashing curser.

I tried to type "ping 216.104.72.5" but got no response

Once I get the flashing curser, what do I do next?

Can you connect using rp3?

I had a odd situation where i could only conenct with wvdial after the connection had been dialed once by rp3. something to do with ppp i think...

chris

I believe that I am able to connect using both RP3 and wvdial, I will go back to Linux and confirm this.

But I am still in the dark about what to do, once I get connected. I think that, once I install Netscape, that the connection may happen. However, I would not be surprized if there is some configuration file or other exotic thing that I have to do to make netscape talk to my modem. That is what this post is all about.
1.) I think it is possible to talk to my ISP in text mode (no browser)using a set of commands. I used to do this when I first started playing with the internet. Is this true? If so, what do I do?
2.) I need a few words of instruction on how to get netscape to talk to my modem.

if your in the terminal and not X, you can try using lynx, its a text based browser and you can see if you can browse using it.

I have managed to get wvdial configured and working, or so it seems.
And I have downloaded and installed netscape v6.01.

PPP seems to be working. Netscape seems to be working, and I can send a URL to my ISP, but that's where it stops. I get error messages from the ISP advising that I need to fix something.

I can ping 'localhost', which is my own machine. However, I cannot ping anything on the net. When I type 'ping google.com' or 'ping 216.104.72.5', nothing happens.

I am wondering if I have left something out, like configuring TCP/IP.

Can anyone give me some input?

Found the answer: It is necessary to have your ISP DNS address in /etc/resolv/conf.