Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 6
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings
Returned from break; all positions advised they lost frequencies and unable to transmit or receive to aircraft. CPDLC/DATA COMM Testing was in progress. Sector 14 was combined with sector 54; no D-side. I asked if R-14 needed any help; 'YES!' was the emphatic reply; however; when I plugged into help from the D-side; the coordination lines were unusable. R-side advised VTABS in use. I have never been trained with the use of VTABS [Voice Switching and Control System Training and Backup Switch] (not that I recall); nor do I know what that is (along with anyone else trained in the building after 2007). I was unable to assist R-14; who was now desperate as [three carriers] were all converging at FL310 without communications. I moved to de-combine sector 54 from sector 14. I was unable to open the position appropriately with 'VTABS'; I still don't know what that is. R14 was able to subsequently coordinate with ZME M27 to descend Aircraft X prior to confliction. ZME later reported they had lost their frequencies as well. This was an unsafe situation on several fronts. Don't combine High and Low Altitude sector(s). Staff D-sides. Train personnel on the use of VTABS; and practice loss of frequencies in training. Discontinue CPDLC/DATA COMM Testing until adequate staffing and frequencies return. We were lucky this time!
Kansas City Center Controller reported losing radios during CPDLC testing and having an airborne conflict between three aircraft.