Unable to find a good antenna winder for portable amateur radio operations, I started tinkering with designs. A few iterations in, I came up with this one, then parsed it down to just a wire frame for minimum weight. Dimensions are approximately 140 mm x 55 mm x 5 mm.
It provides room for up to about 100 ft of 26 ga wire, but packs small and deploys easily. Wind in a figure-8 pattern to eliminate twists. The shape of the legs of the winder allows the wire to sit flat and reduce bulk, while the angles still allow for easy deployment of the wire in the field. The small slot at the top provides a spot to attach an 8 inch by .5 inch velcro cable tie strap (affiliate link) to secure the wire to the winder and act as a handle during deployment.
This is a great companion to go with an antenna built from one of my antenna kits. Check them out at www.k6ark.com
The author remixed this model.