ASCENSION ISLAND
{to Sierra Leone] 9525, Cotton Tree Network via Ascension Islands, 0748-0800* July 29, caught tail end of the news in one of the local languages followed by an English ID as "CTN" with drums in background prior to carrier termination. Fair. (Rich D'Angelo-PA-USA, DXplorer July 29)
"SIERRA LEONE." 9525, Cotton Tree News (via Ascension), verified an e-mail report with an e-mail reply in 2 hrs. from Anne Bennett, Coordinateur de Projet Sierra Leone from Fondation Hirondelle, who promised a postal reply. In a follow-up reply she noted "that VT has asked that we shift the frequency as of August 1 to 13760 kHz. I would be interested in your feedback on the signal." (Rich D'Angelo-PA, DXplorer Aug 6)
9525, Full-data Hirondelle QSL direct from Sierra Leone in three weeks for follow-up e-mail rpt with audio clip to George Bennett.
I also rcvd this e-mail from Anne Bennett:
"Dear Mr. Herkimer. Thank you for your reception report of CTN on shortwave 9525 kHz. We have sent you a QSL, though the post from West Africa is slow and unreliable. Please let me know if you don't receive it. Cotton Tree News is a news and information service based in Freetown, Sierra Leone. We share shortwave time with our sister radio, STAR radio in Liberia. We also broadcast on FM throughout the country, providing people with relevant, accurate and professional news and programmes on health, current affairs, education, women's issues and science.
The project is directed by Fondation Hirondelle, Media for Peace and Human Dignity and is funded by the European Union, the UK, Switzerland and Ireland. We work with young journalists and students at Fourah Bay College in Freetown. Thank you very much for contacting us. I am please to know that our shortwave is reaching New York. Please note that as of August 1 we will be on frequency 13760 kHz. Sincerely, Anne Bennett, Coordinateur de Projet Sierra Leone, Fondation Hirondelle, Mount Aureol, Freetown, Sierra Leone. Tel. +232 76 53 63 94, Mobile Suisse +41 79 355 3515." (John Herkimer-NY-USA, DXplorer Aug 6)
SOUTH AFRICA/ASCENSION ISL "SIERRA LEONE." 13760 (new freqy, ex-9525), Cotton Tree News, now via Meyerton (ex-Ascension), starting from Aug 1. Scheduled for 0730-0800 UT. Tnx to Rich D'Angelo for the tip and per an e-mail also from Anne Bennett. I have not been able to hear them here since the move. Wonder about Star Radio, have they also shifted their 0700-0730 UT prgmng here? (Ron Howard-CA-USA, DXplorer Aug 6)
(Source: WWDXC Top News-BC-DX# 819)