Building One of Europe’s Top Contest Stations: Mike SJ2W

Mike Larsmark SJ2W is one of Europe’s premier contest station builders—an operator who pairs deep technical skill with long-term investment and a clear vision for finding a competitive edge from the far northern Swedish countryside. Licensed at 15, Larsmark jumped into contesting early and never looked back. He credits Contest Crew member Randy Thompson K5ZD as an early influence, whose writeups helped him understand what it meant to operate competitively. From stringing up wire antennas to building a purpose-designed, eight-tower station near 64.5° N, his journey has been one of steady, methodical refinement. SJ2W is now a serious presence in the contesting world, with European records, top-three finishes, and proof that results are possible—even at a highly propagation-dependent latitude—with the right design and team. This conversation traces the evolution of SJ2W: why automation became essential, how Larsmark built a remote-ready system around his own control software (OpenASC), and what it takes to manage hardware, operators, and neighbors across thousands of square meters. One standout moment: the 2010 IARU contest, when SJ2W’s new antennas brought in North America every hour for 24 hours straight—an early glimpse of what the site was capable of. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Thanks to DX Engineering for backing the builders, the activators, and the contesters—whether you're fine-tuning a multi-op setup or logging first contacts from a field station, their gear and guidance help you get the job done right.