Tom Georgens W2SC, also known as 8P5A, has a wall of plaques that reflect not just his victories—but the decades of discipline, grit, and quiet precision behind them. While running a Fortune 500 company, he built a formidable contest station in Barbados, troubleshooting in the tropical heat and chasing perfection from one contest season to the next.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Tom shares how he went from a borrowed rental shack to designing and operating a world-class station of his own. He speaks openly about the emotional lows—twice collapsing before the end of a major contest—and the persistence that brought him back to win CQ WW SSB outright. This isn’t just a story about radios and rate sheets. It’s about risk, resilience, and the discipline to rebuild when most would walk away.

Tom also takes us inside the 8P5A station—engineered for “no knobs” operation and built for efficiency at scale. From writing custom software to wrangling antennas in the rain, he explains how contesting sharpened his leadership, kept him grounded under pressure, and still pushes him to evolve. His reflections on preparation, intuition, and the future of ham radio are as thoughtful as they are hard-won.

Whether you’re chasing plaques, personal bests, or simply trying to understand what drives the best—this one’s worth your time. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.

Thanks to DX Engineering for supporting the operators who never stop pushing—whether they’re building from scratch, rebuilding after storms, or reimagining what a contest station can be.