Here we go (not all that revealing, to me, at any rate):

root@molehole:/home/john# plog
Oct 24 19:40:41 molehole chat[626]: -- got it
Oct 24 19:40:41 molehole chat[626]: send (ATDT179^M)
Oct 24 19:40:41 molehole chat[626]: expect (CONNECT)
Oct 24 19:40:41 molehole chat[626]: ^M
Oct 24 19:40:41 molehole chat[626]: warning: read() on stdin returned 0
Oct 24 19:40:41 molehole chat[626]: Failed
Oct 24 19:40:42 molehole pppd[625]: Connect script failed
Oct 24 19:40:43 molehole pppd[625]: Exit.

But you should see the problems I'm having with a fresh install of SuSE 8.2!

I'll be away for a bit so please don't interpret a lack of reply as ignorance!