Radio Shack VSS-400 49-2501 4-Channel Observation Monitor CRT Security

Radio Shack VSS-400 49-2501 4-Channel Observation Monitor CRT Security

The Radio Shack VSS-400 is a compact tabletop CRT observation monitor designed for use with up to four security cameras simultaneously. Sold under Radio Shack's catalog number 49-2501 and manufactured by Tandy Corporation, this unit lets operators switch between four camera feeds, trigger a VCR recording, and use a built-in Talk/intercom function — making it a self-contained analog surveillance display station from the mid-1990s.

Specifications & What's Included

• Model: VSS-400 (Cat. No. 49-2501)
• Display type: CRT (Cathode Ray Tube)
• Number of camera channels: 4
• Camera inputs: 4 × 5-pin DIN connectors (CA1, CA2, CA3, CA4)
• AV connectors (rear RCA): V-OUT, A-OUT, A-IN, V-IN
• Front panel buttons: Talk, Camera 1, Camera 2, Camera 3, Camera 4, Auto, VCR
• Front panel adjustments (behind flip-down door): H-Hold, V-Hold, Brightness (BRIT), Contrast (CONT), Volume (VOL)
• Built-in microphone port (MIC) on front panel
• Power: AC 120V, 60Hz, Max 45W
• UL Listed Monitor (UL 8758, file E156449)
• Complies with FCC Part 15 and FDA Radiation Performance Standards (21 CFR Subchapter J)
• Manufactured in Korea for Radio Shack / Tandy Corporation, Fort Worth, TX — dated November 1994
• Includes: attached AC power cord
• Not included: cameras, camera cables, or other accessories

Applications

The VSS-400 was designed for small-scale analog CCTV and closed-circuit observation systems of the early-to-mid 1990s — a period when consumer and small-business security systems used proprietary camera connectors, composite RCA video, and dedicated CRT monitors rather than digital or IP-based equipment. It was sold through Radio Shack retail stores as part of their home and small-business security product line. Typical uses included retail loss prevention, small office monitoring, and residential surveillance with up to four cameras. The V-OUT and A-OUT RCA jacks allowed the monitor to feed a VCR for recording, and the Talk button supported a basic intercom function through a connected camera with audio. Today these units are primarily of interest to collectors of vintage consumer electronics and retro security equipment, or to hobbyists working with period-correct analog CCTV setups.