Cable reel axle shaft with integrated radio frequency rotary coupling

In one embodiment, a cable reel axle shaft is configured with a mounting member and an encased rotary coupling. In particular, a first end of the axle shaft at the mounting member comprises a stationary radio frequency (RF) connection (e.g., a stator), and another end of the axle shaft comprises a rotating RF connection (e.g., a rotor). The rotor-stator break may then be located within the axle shaft, illustratively within the member. In this manner, a rotary coupling is extended and integrated into the center of the structural axle shaft for the cable reel, such that an RF connection may be maintained throughout adjustment of an accompanying variable-length RF antenna while efficiently handling the changes in required RF cable length. This provides numerous benefits over individual components, such as decreased size and weight, increased RF performance, greater survivability, and ease of operation (e.g., to spool and unspool an RF cable).