How to figure out which center frequency to use.

[Tom Maxwell]

Thanks for the reply on my last question about choosing SIDs and STARs.  One more question please.  During a normal flight in the real world you can count on ATC being online and handing you off from one frequency to another.  On my flight the other day during the ZMP event, I started in Sioux Falls KFSD and there was no ATC available there.  I checked the center frequencies to find 4 different center frequencies (if I recall properly) online.  How do I figure out which one to use?  I know they divide the airspace high/low and different directions, but that information is not available to pilots, as far as I know.  I tried checking the charts on SKYVector and either didn't know where to look or couldn't find the information.  I resorted to just listening on the different frequencies until I heard an aircraft near my location and used that frequency.  If anyone could give me some insight on how to figure this out, I'll be appreciative.  Thanks again for the assistance.

[Don Desfosse]

During an event with multiple splits, many facilities and controllers make it a point to publish the split information (at least which sector they are working) in their Controller Information.  Some facilities, like ZMP, publish their splits for pilots to find (https://minniecenter.org/split which could be found by going to the home page, selecting Pilots and selecting ATC Split Information).

In all cases, however, you could just call up one of them, tell them where you are, and ask which controller you should be talking to.  The controller should then (hopefully at least semi-cheerfully ) tell you which controller you should call.