I got the kernel copied, changed booter to load from netbsd.030.gz,
No problem.

How do I tell which kernel is loading........

Also tried pppd.  did not work....

I still don't have any dialog in my /var/log/messages file
I don't even see the chat dialog & I am connecting (noise stop) the ISP
has it but pppd is dropping the ball.

My /etc/ppp/ppp-up looks just like yours.....