Need a way to quickly deploy and to easily wind up long lengths of LMR400 coax cable? LMR400 needs to be handled in a way that does not damage the cable by bending it too sharply. The design listed here is a way to make this an easy task.
150 feet LMR400 Superflex
This spool is made from 1/2" PVC pipe and fittings. It is 1' 4" in diameter with 3" sides. A spool this size could hold 200-250 feet of coax if carefully wound.
Screw drivers, which you should have handy in your tool bag, serve as the deploy pivot point and as the crank handle for winding out the coax.
I made the sides removable by drilling through the T fitting and the 1/2" pipe and inserting a lock pin. Number each side piece and leg of the spool so you always match up the same side to the same leg. If you do not, you will have fun figuring out the 1 of 4 combinations to get the holes to line up. The sides can be removed so you can role up a lengths of cable, band it, remove it and roll up another length with just one spool.
Protect the PL259 end connectors of your coax by using the green slip on covers and short pieces of pipe insulation (kept loosely in place by a zip tie). This will keep the ends from being damaged if you drag the cable along the ground.
Use some long twist ties to connect one end of the coax to the spool so you can wind it up. Then use another twist tie to anchor the end after rolling up your coax.
