Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Retractable Gear
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 400; Flight Crew Type 290
Troubleshooting; Situational Awareness; Distraction; Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Airspace Structure; Staffing; Procedure; Human Factors
Ground advised me to contact SoCal on 135.05. After leaving SMO airspace I tuned to SoCal and I announced my call sign; altitude passing and final altitude to SoCal before entering Burbank Class C. The controller responded (clearly irritated) and said; 'Whoever is transmitting on 135.05 you're stepping over everyone; come to my frequency on 124.6.'I dialed in 124.6 and could not get a word in as the frequency was 100% busy. The controller was way too busy. Even announced; 'I can't call everyone twice....' Shows you how overworked controller was. I assumed that meant I had established communication as required by 91.130 but then when I was on 124.6 I heard controller giving a traffic warning to this twin above me and told the twin that; 'I'm not speaking to that pilot' which was referring to me.The frequency was 100% busy and by the time I was out of Burbank Class C airspace and in the zone that 125.5 looks after so I tuned to 125.5 and got a code for flight following without any further communication with the controller on 124.6.I've noticed these frequencies are very busy at times and why is the facility having one controller covering both frequencies when is clear to a lay person that the workload is too much. It's a crunch zone for SMO arrivals; BUR [and] VNY approach and departures.The last thing you want is departing SMO traffic circling around that area before Burbank Class C as they will conflict with SMO arrivals.
Small aircraft pilot reports frequency congestion when trying to obtain flight following with SCT while departing enroute to Burbank. Pilot offers concern as to why one Controller is responsible for two different frequencies.