Narrative:

While in cruise flight, radio communication was lost with ZDC shortly after clearance was given to descend at pilot's discretion to cross ric VOR at FL240. I noticed that it was very quiet on the radio and pushed the squelch button on communication #1 and heard nothing. I tried communication #2 and that didn't work either. We checked all combinations of 'tx' and 'rx' on both captain's and first officer's audio select panel, and neither of us could 'tx' at all. I finally was able to 'tx' on communication #2 and 'rx' on communication #1 on 2 different frequencys. ZDC handed us off to the next sector and couldn't 'tx or rx' on that frequency either. Went back to the previous frequency and couldn't speak with anyone. I unplugged both my headset and hand microphone to see if that was causing a suspect stuck microphone on our aircraft. That didn't work either. I selected 7600 on the transponder and began blind 'tx' on 121.50 to try to raise anyone. Finally was able to 'tx' on 121.50 and instructions were relayed through that radio. Unsure whether center/approach/tower could hear me. I would hit the identify to acknowledge every time instructions were given. Landed without any further problems and had maintenance meet the aircraft to troubleshoot radio problems.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 FLT CREW HAS LOST COM DURING ARR INTO RIC.

Narrative: WHILE IN CRUISE FLT, RADIO COM WAS LOST WITH ZDC SHORTLY AFTER CLRNC WAS GIVEN TO DSND AT PLT'S DISCRETION TO CROSS RIC VOR AT FL240. I NOTICED THAT IT WAS VERY QUIET ON THE RADIO AND PUSHED THE SQUELCH BUTTON ON COM #1 AND HEARD NOTHING. I TRIED COM #2 AND THAT DIDN'T WORK EITHER. WE CHKED ALL COMBINATIONS OF 'TX' AND 'RX' ON BOTH CAPT'S AND FO'S AUDIO SELECT PANEL, AND NEITHER OF US COULD 'TX' AT ALL. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO 'TX' ON COM #2 AND 'RX' ON COM #1 ON 2 DIFFERENT FREQS. ZDC HANDED US OFF TO THE NEXT SECTOR AND COULDN'T 'TX OR RX' ON THAT FREQ EITHER. WENT BACK TO THE PREVIOUS FREQ AND COULDN'T SPEAK WITH ANYONE. I UNPLUGGED BOTH MY HEADSET AND HAND MIKE TO SEE IF THAT WAS CAUSING A SUSPECT STUCK MIKE ON OUR ACFT. THAT DIDN'T WORK EITHER. I SELECTED 7600 ON THE XPONDER AND BEGAN BLIND 'TX' ON 121.50 TO TRY TO RAISE ANYONE. FINALLY WAS ABLE TO 'TX' ON 121.50 AND INSTRUCTIONS WERE RELAYED THROUGH THAT RADIO. UNSURE WHETHER CTR/APCH/TWR COULD HEAR ME. I WOULD HIT THE IDENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE EVERY TIME INSTRUCTIONS WERE GIVEN. LANDED WITHOUT ANY FURTHER PROBS AND HAD MAINT MEET THE ACFT TO TROUBLESHOOT RADIO PROBS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.