Again with the technology...

[rolanni]

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?"

Comments

VoIP and one-way audio

[edgreenberg.livejournal.com]

Voice over IP is notorious for one-way audio, lost touchtone, echoes and other problems that traditional analog phones don't have.

If the telephone service and the cable service come from the same place, they should be able to resolve it, and you should be demanding service credits and making other loud noises until they do.

If the telephone service does not come from the cable company, the telephone service provider is the best bet.

Without knowing any more about what you have in your home, there's little more I can tell you, but you're welcome to email me off line and we can discuss it further. I'll copy this comment to you by email so you can have my address.

Re: VoIP and one-way audio

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm in the process of ...negotiating with tech support. They are promising a tech, but are being coy about when. I pointed out that we live out the country, where the cell-signal doesn't reach and so are essentially phoneless, until they fix this problem, which, IMNSHO, counts as an Emergency.

Re: VoIP and one-way audio

[sb-moof.livejournal.com]

I believe that is an Emergency in the eyes of the law as well. At least I have heard murmurings along those lines on a college campus in CA. Something to do with you not having 911 service since the phone is out.