TELEPHONE TROUBLE

Just in case anyone has tried to call us in the last several days--we are having telephone trouble. We can make outgoing calls without any problem, but we can't receive any calls. We just get a short "blip" of a ring, and it "disconnects" before our Caller ID can gather any information. A couple of times, I have been on the phone, and the call waiting will beep and the Caller ID will actually register. We have a repairperson coming today, but we are a little hesitant about it because we can't really determine if the problem is inside or outside of the house. (If it's inside, we have to pay megabucks for having them make a service call.) We plugged a phone into the outside jack, and the phone would work if Dwane held the plug "just right". We'll see.