The origin of the first version of what has become the Pixie Transceiver (called Micro-80) was done by RV3GM in SPRAT, the official GQRP Club newsletter, and republished in Vol 1, Issue 1 of QRPp, the official NorCal newsletter. David Joseph, WA6BOY, on page 47 of QRPp Vol 1 Number 3 came out with a version called the Pixie 2 in a pill bottle for 80M or 40M. It was used as the basis for a building contest in Dayton sponsored by the NorCal club. Since that time a large number of the critters have been constructed and destructed all over the world.
This is a very simple one. All the components (or equivalents) are easily available. Please note, building a transmitter without a valid license is prohibited.
Micro-80 was a complete CW transceiver with full break-in. With a small modification transmitter produces about 400mW (Q2 as BFY-51) CW on 3.5 MHz band. Receiver is a direct conversion type, sensitive enough to copy most of the signals. Transister Q1 (2n2222) can be replaced with even a BC108, for Q2 use a BFY51 or any other equivalent for 400mW. Micro-80 can be easily modified to transmit AM voice. Unfortunately 400mW will not be sufficient to operate on AM as the effective AM signal will be only about 100mW.
The automatic frequency offset selection when transmitting and receiving is an optional circuit. Proper frequency separation would be 600 Hz to 700 Hz for CW.
Please see also : 80m Short Antenna and Easy to build key.