Well, I was actually able to get the conditions to change...

It's always the most obvious things, so I double-checked I was using the correct port on my Toshiba software modem - I wasn't - so I changed it to the correct port.

Now, it connects, then hesitates for 30 to 60 seconds, gives me the usual "Remote party disconnected error", but then tells me that "The login has failed, check to make sure the communication parameters are correct." I am pretty sure I should be at 9600 for two of the three switches, so I am now confused even more. I tried connecting at 4800 and go the same thing, just took a little longer...