thanks,that makes sense,the guy I got it from was using a modified cb. So the label 20 meter was just on it to keep them out of court?I thought the caps looked awful small. getting bigger coils and capacitors will be real fun.getting rid of 4 tubes might make some room.  they wired this thing with all same color wire.this will give me a chance to add some color.I have 2 of Bill Orrs books to help figure henries and mmf'ds. Thanks for not bad dogging me,to me its the journey, not the destination thats important.In reality I may never use this thing.A Local ham says its good enough just to see that another CB isn't hooked up to it.  
Second thought is to gut it and rebuild .

 knowing these amps are frowned on by ham community,a customer gave this thing to me.I would  like to try it on 20 meters and take a look at output  (haven't used scope in years)perhaps try to clean it up.You know, tinker.question is what triggers the relays if shorting rca jack doesn't.I haven't gotten schematic yet which would tell allot. 

I think my problem is the usb-serial driver didn't install.One of my kids can show me what I'm doing wrong

Its been a long journey and I'm almost there.I'm using ham radio delux with easy digi interface and the usb cable provided.the waterfall shows the signals,but in the startup program computer can't read radios frequency.The only thing I can think of that might be wrong is I didn't use a shielded cable from interface to radio,too much noise?prompt suggests radio speed.I can't find that in manual.

I read somewhere that I'll need something between my solid state radio and the tube amp I'm building.I didn't see any coments about output power of radio.Allot of the SS amps I looked at needed a low Input 

very inspiring story k8awx thanks.As cost is a big issue,I've learned I enjoy the process perhaps more than the end.Sounds like I should stick with the 4-400 amp.And some patience .But for most hamming I do I only need a little more power.Solid state is probably the way to go.And of course, a better antenna.During recent CQ contest the station in Cayman  Ils,couldn't make out my call sign.Amp no good in 100 watt contest.

Thanks Zak,I didn't see that one earlier,theres a 650 watt that looks doable from 1959 arrl.                                       

I started building legal limit amp based on 400 tubes.  I have most of the parts,and the cabinet is running out of room.30 amps for filaments seams insane. The hv transformer scares me just a little.Being new to hobby,I,m thinking it would be smarter to start smaller,something that would fit on shelf.I have searched arrl and got a copy of bill orrs 15th and 19th book.the closest I come is to use a design for higher power and use smaller tubes.question is does can anyone steer me to a how-to build amp based on the 150 or 250 tubes I have several of both.

the saga continues.Thanks for all your help.I got radio plugged into var-yack and voltages are close to speks.Question is can I replace .47 paper caps with .47 dipped mylar ?There was both in set originally. It had more signs of life before I changed them out.but it had higher voltage too.

I'm going over parts while waiting for my turn on net. changed a few paper capacitors.Checking high value resistors,I found a little short,fat 33meg that showed open,I didn't have one so I soldered 3 -10 megs to make 30 and stuck it in there,turned the power on,and no difference!So I puzzle out schematic and it shows it to be a .33mf.This fix is teaching me a thing or two.Again.My high voltage is higher than specks like 40-50 volts,I thought more is always better.I adapted a heath supply.Could excess b+ cause tubes to cut off?I guess I'll get a resistor in there to back it down,maby in the supply there's a adjustable clamp type.

 Thanks everyone,I'll go ahead with the 35 amp bridge.Soft start circuit looks pretty simple to add,as I've got some pretty big caps to fill,good Idea.

ON DX ZONE THE TOP SUPPLY,IN THE TEXT SAYS THE RECTIFIER DIODES NEED TO HANDLE 100 AMPS PEAK FORWARD CURRENT.WHAT THE HECK? I SUSPECT THIS IS A TRANSLATION FOPAW ,MEANING VOLTS.OTHER DESIGNS DESCRIBE USING A 35 AMP BRIDGE,WHICH IS WHAT I PICKED UNTIL I READ THE TEXT.I HAVE THE BIG RESISTOR FOR TESTING UNDER FULL LOAD.

theres a 33 amp S-350-12 on e bay for $56 post paid,Any one use one.

I haden't thought of test first,I would feel like crap if radio was toasted.schematic I'm looking at has a diode placed so fuse will blow if there's a rectifier failure.$65-75 isn't much more to spend,on the other hand for switching supply.

My computer posted before I was done!I ordered parts I didn't have.I can put parts together but my knowledge slowed down when integrated circuits came out.I wasted allot of time years ago blowing up mosfets when 50 amp versions came on the market building power inverter by turning mosfets on and off with a 555 timer set at 60 cycles. It always worked for a little while then the magic smoke.I have a pair of 4-400c tubes and all the parts for amp .I'm taking my time on this one.