<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-09-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000914139</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PARKERVISION INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PRKR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001350639</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Del Mar Asset Management, LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>711 FIFTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>FIFTH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001418980</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DEL MAR MASTER FUND, LTD.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>711 FIFTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>FIFTH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001418981</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DEL MAR MANAGEMENT, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>711 FIFTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>FIFTH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001418982</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FREELOVE DAVID</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>711 FIFTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>FIFTH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock, par value $0.01 (the &quot;Common Stock&quot;)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-09-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.3</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6734159</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares of Common Stock to which this relates are held directly by (i) Del Mar Master Fund, Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the &quot;Master Fund&quot;) under the management of Del Mar Asset Management, LP, a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;DMAM&quot;) and (ii) a certain trading account under the management of Mr. David Freelove (the &quot;Trading Account&quot;). DMAM serves as investment manager of the Master Fund and as such has discretion over the portfolio securities held by the Master Fund. Del Mar Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the &quot;GP&quot;), is the general partner of DMAM and directs DMAM's operations. Mr. David Freelove is the managing member of the GP. Mr. David Freelove also serves as the managing member of the Trading Account and as such has discretion over the portfolio securities held by the Trading Account. DMAM, the GP and Mr. David Freelove disclaim beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares of Common Stock to which this relates are held directly by Mr. David Freelove.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>In addition to the shares of Common Stock reported herein, as of the date hereof, certain DMAM employees responsible for managing the holdings reported herein separately own an aggregate of 46,000 shares of Common Stock.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Del Mar Asset Management, LP; By its general partner Del Mar Management, LLC; By its managing member David Freelove</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-09-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Del Mar Master Fund, Ltd.; By its investment manager Del Mar Asset Management, LP; By its general partner Del Mar Management, LLC; By its managing member David Freelove</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-09-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Del Mar Management LLC; By its managing member David Freelove</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-09-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David Freelove</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-09-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
