>then I type the 
>cu -l tty00 -s 9600
>it comes up with connected and then when I try to type the atdt ...
>for the line to dial it gives a read/write error...
>then disconects.
>If I type the cu line with the cable disconnected up til the connected
>message comes up and then plug it iand do the atdt line it works fine..

I had the same problem.  It's the Carrier Detect line.  The serial
driver requires it to be on.  For my modem, I go into Zterm before I
boot macbsd and type

	at&c0 <CR>

This worked for me.

  --Bryan Clingman
    bryanc@slip.net