Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 157; Flight Crew Type 14000
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
While en route to RSW; our arrival was changed for weather from the TYNEE 2 to the SHFTY 5 Arrival. JAX Center cleared us direct INPIN and descend to FL 330. We were expecting JAX to descend us soon. The radios were quiet without much traffic. A few miles after INPIN we received a call on Guard frequency to contact JAX Center on XXX.XX. I checked in with 'JAX Center with (call sign).' JAX asked for my altitude and I replied 'FL 330.' He then cleared us direct to MOEMO and told [us] to descend to FL 240. We never received another call from JAX on XXX.XX. Then we received a call on Guard to contact JAX Center on the previous frequency.I first called JAX Center on XXX.XX with no response; then I called JAX Center on [the previous frequency]. The Controller was clearly agitated and chastised us that he'd been trying to contact us since INPIN. I told him we received a call on Guard to go to XXX.XX and told him that Controller gave us direct MOEMO and descend to FL 240. JAX handed us over to Approach and the rest of the flight was uneventful.I think the issues here are internal with JAX Center. Was the Controller listening to Guard? Did he hear the Guard call from another Controller for (other call sign) to contact JAX on XXX.XX? Should we establish a new procedure for pilots to try and contact ATC on their last assigned before contacting the new frequency assigned on Guard? I can't think of much we can do in the aircraft to prevent this. I'd certainly like to know what happened at JAX Center; external to our aircraft; during this event.
Air Carrier Captain reported receiving calls on Guard frequency to contact JAX Center on different frequencies; but the Controller who responded appeared to have no knowledge of the frequency changes.