Again with the technology...

So, it came to our attention that running a digital phone off the cable modem would save us an arm and a leg, between unFairpoint and AT&T. The phone and the new modem came some time back. I did the install and then we waited. Yesterday was Switchover Day for the phones. I picked up a handset in the morning and, yep, we had a dial-tone. Convinced that all was well, I thought no more of it, because, frankly, I loathe telephones and have as little to do with them as possible.

This morning, Steve's mom called. Steve could hear her, but she couldn't hear him. This is...distressing, to say the least. I spent the last 45 minutes reading the instructions, setting up the various functions, moving the second handset in its little cradle into the kitchen, and...Steve just called me on his cell. I heard him fine; he couldn't hear one word I said.

So -- those who have been living with this technology forever -- what am I doing wrong, here? I can't think of anything in the phone service that would make the phone half-work, so it must be something we're doing or not doing.

Sigh. It used to be so easy. You picked up the receiver, and said, "Lucy? Can you put me over to Jill's line, please?"