= NOW 25 WPM = TEXT IS FROM MAY 2021 QST PAGE 57 = SOLAR FLUX INDEX SFI, NEVER EXCEEDING 75 SFI UNTIL LATE OCTOBER. SFI IS THE MOST WIDELY USED SHORT TERM INDICATOR OF INCREASED SUNSPOT ACTIVITY THAT IMPROVES HF PROPAGATION. FORTUITOUSLY, 17 SUNSPOTS SUDDENLY APPEARED IN A NEW SOLAR REGION JUST AS THE NOVEMBER CQ WORLD WIDE CW DX CONTEST BEGAN, AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE EVENT FOR THE OPENING YEAR OF ANY SOLAR CYCLE. THE SFI REACHED 110 DURING THE FIRST DAY OF THE CONTEST THE HIGHEST IN MORE THAN 3 YEARS AND STAYED ABOVE 100 THROUGH EARLY DECEMBER 2020. ENHANCED SUNSPOT ACTIVITY GREATLY IMPROVED PROPAGATION THROUGHOUT THE CONTEST, PROVIDING WORLDWIDE 15 METER PROPAGATION FROM SUNRISE UNTIL SUNSET, AND OPENING 10 METERS TO MOST OF THE WORLD FOR MANY HOURS DURING BOTH CONTEST DAYS. EXCELLENT 30 THROUGH 10 METER DX PROPAGATION OCCURRED FOR MANY HOURS EVERY DAY UNTIL THE ACTIVE REGION ROTATED TO THE BACK OF THE SUN ON DECEMBER 6. THE REGION AGAIN ROTATED ONTO THE SUNS VISIBLE DISK IN LATE = END OF 25 WPM TEXT = QST DE W1AW <