Date: 201511
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Descent
Airspace: Class A ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Center ZZZ
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Communication Breakdown
Second reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Not Flying
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Contributing factors: ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings
Primary problem: ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings

Narrative: During descent on the arrival into ZZZ; ZZZ1 Center gave us a telephone number to call for ZZZ Center. We had been with Center. When we first checked on; they had asked us to try to contact another flight on 121.5; which we did successfully. We were on the frequency for quite a long time; and the reception sounded good. I am certain that we did not miss multiple calls from center; if our radio was receiving them properly. However; at one point; I noticed that the ACARS had gone into SATCOM mode; which happens with the loss of ARINC VHF coverage; so we may have been in a dead area for a period of time. When I noticed the ACARS do this; we attempted to contact Center by voice. The controller answered and asked us to standby; but was busy and never called us back. We then received an ACARS message to contact ATC on the same frequency we had been on for some time. I did call the number provided; hoping that it would be a productive discussion concerning possible frequency coverage issues. This was indeed the case; as the supervisor I spoke with seemed genuinely concerned about a potential problem. He said that Center had tried to contact us several times. I explained our side of the story; as outlined above. I would like to add that I have; on several occasions; brought up the potential safety issue with the practice of ATC issuing a phone number to pilots to call. Some pilots could easily become distressed; causing a degradation of performance during critical phases of flight. There must be a better way to handle these situations.This is not the first time I have heard of communication problems with ZZZ Center and other ARTCCs in remote areas. Aircraft equipped with automatic VHF Comm squelch; may cut out a weak ATC signal without the knowledge of the crew. Domestic use of CPDLC would surely help; and this aircraft was so equipped.


Second narrative: 1. Reduce the absurd amount of radio congestion. It has become nearly non-stop chatter over the past years.2. If an aircraft is on the wrong frequency; perhaps a timelier advisory (via ACARS or other avenue) would be more appropriate and useful.3. The larger question: why are we still using 1940's vintage technology to communicate in 2015?


Synopsis: Air carrier flight crew reported losing communication with ARTCC. The reporter stated they were on the appropriate frequency the entire time; but may have been in an area of limited radio coverage.