B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 197
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Aircraft
We were flying at 36;000 feet and we got a Cabin Altitude Warning horn and light.  We accomplished cabin altitude warning - abnormal pressurization memory items. I called Center and told them we had a pressurization problem and needed to start descending. We finished the Cabin Altitude Abnormal Pressurization Checklist and could not control the rising cabin pressure. We accomplished the Emergency Descent Checklist and descended to 10;000 feet. We had plenty of fuel and good weather. We contacted Dispatch and told them our situation.  They agreed continuing to [destination] was the best decision. We had normal indications on the air conditioning panel; both bleeds were on with normal press; both packs were operating normally; and the outflow valve was closed the whole time. We had cabin altitude rise up to almost 14;000 feet. The situation was made more challenging when the First Officer put on his oxygen mask and turned on his mask switch.  He could not communicate so we used hand signals and he yelled. We found that his Microphone wire had a short so he pushed it into a working position and could communicate.
[Report narrative contained no additional information]
A B737 flight crew reported a pressurization problem that forced an early descent. The issue was complicated by the First Officer's Oxygen Mask Microphone exhibiting a shorting cable.