Air carrier First Officer reported missing a frequency change due to misreading the frequency numbers. Reporter stated that although they were monitoring guard frequency so ATC could contact them; they had the volume turned down due to the excessive amount of chatter.

Date: 2021-10 · Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing · Phase: cruise

Anomalies: deviation-discrepancy-procedural-far|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy

Synopsis

Air carrier First Officer reported missing a frequency change due to misreading the frequency numbers. Reporter stated that although they were monitoring guard frequency so ATC could contact them; they had the volume turned down due to the excessive amount of chatter.

Narrative

I was Pilot Flying this leg; the Captain was Pilot Monitoring. We were en-route and given an ATC frequency change. The Captain changed frequencies and checked in with the center controller with our altitude; and the controller replied 'roger'. About 10 minutes later; we received an ACARS message from our dispatcher saying that ATC was looking for us; and gave us the frequency. We noticed that it was one digit off of the frequency we were speaking with; and changed it to the correct one to check in with ATC. The cause of this event was misreading the ATC frequency.This could have been avoided if the controller that we checked on with told us the frequency was incorrect; which is what typically happens in this case. We would have been able to go back to the prior frequency and get the proper one. Another way would be if we had heard the controllers if they were trying to reach us on guard. Guard was particularly busy with meowing and nonsense that morning (as it typically is) so we had the volume set low. I have said it time and time again; guard has become so ridiculous with chatter as of late; and it has been making it difficult to monitor. This is an issue that needs to be resolved.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.