Medium Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings
Immediately after lift-off; we heard EWR Tower tell the aircraft behind us to remain in position on runway 22R due to an ATC radio outage. We were then instructed to contact Departure Control on 128.55. My FO (First Officer) tried to contact departure several times with no response.I had him switch to radio #2 and attempt contact. After no success; I had him return to EWR tower on radio #1. Once again; no success. Thinking it might be his PTT switch; I had him engage the auto pilot; and I tried both radios several times; with the same outcome.We ran our After Take-off check list; and I had him contact ATC on 121.50. Lots of chatter: we received no response; but could hear several other aircraft with the same issue; so we pieced together that it was not an issue with our airborne equipment.At that time; I had him transmit 7600 on the transponder. Within a few moments; ATC (via 121.50) gave us a LGA frequency; and we immediately contacted them. They issued us a climb to 3;000 feet and a left turn to heading 090.Total elapsed time from take-off until we reestablished communication was approximately 3-4 minutes.From that point on; the flight was uneventful.Threats were our inability to contact anyone from ATC. Additional threat was flying low-level; in the wrong direction (southbound; we wanted to go northeast on course) for several minutes without further ATC clearance.
Medium transport Captain reported losing contact with ATC for approximately 4 minutes shortly after takeoff from EWR.