PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 6
Troubleshooting; Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings
I was working satellite airport sectors combined with moderate IFR traffic. Aircraft X was being vectored for an ILS approach; descended to 5000 ft. Additionally I had 2 IFR aircraft being vectored to other airports. At this point I lost all communications and was unable to reach any of my aircraft. I attempted to use both main and standby frequencies; all 4 headset jacks; the ET-4 tunable frequency; and the orange Telco jack. No matter what I attempted I was unable to reach any airplanes. The two sectors next to me attempted to reach aircraft on 121.5 and attempted to use my frequencies in case it was just my sector that had issues. We stopped departures off of PHX because several of the aircraft were on vectors towards the airport at 6000 ft. and 7000 ft. Additionally; I alerted Tower and Center that I had lost communications. Aircraft X continued on their last assigned heading across the localizer at 5000 ft. and entered a 5300 ft. Minimum Vectoring Altitude. It was at that moment that one of the other aircraft on frequency called me. I verified that they could hear me and then immediately issued a climbing left turn to Aircraft X to get them away from the higher terrain. From that point on all frequencies appeared to be operating normally. The Controller next to me had noticed that [at] the same time I lost all of my frequencies; the Tower Radar was showing in alarm (I believe the antennas for my frequencies are co-located). After the event the Supervisor said the tunable backup radio was tuned to the wrong frequency. I estimate that I had lost the frequencies for 4 to 5 minutes. It would help if antennas were not co-located at the same site. After discussing with other controllers; it sounds like this might have been the 3rd time this sector has lost frequencies.
P50 TRACON Controller reported losing all their communications resulting in an aircraft flying below the Minimum Vectoring Altitude.