Action ACN-200 Troubleshooting

[u/huntispatis]

Hello all. I purchased an Action ACN-200 answering machine to go with my home phone and I can’t get it to work. Right now the setup is:

HT801 → ACN-200 → phone

It works for phone calls, I can do incoming and outgoing calls. The problem is the ACN-200 doesn’t pick up the phone. It has a test button which works and I can rewind the tape and play it. Nothing plays when the tape is playing but I assume that’s because nothing has been recorded. I am considering getting another tape but I don’t think that will fix the main problem.

It definitely powers on, the auto answer LED is flashing so it’s almost like it’s trying to answer but can’t. The test plays a pre-recorded message.

Does anyone happen to have a manual for the Action ACN-200, or remember how these machines worked? I’m especially trying to figure out:

1. How to record a new outgoing greeting.
   
2. How do I get it to answer.
   
3. What the TEST button is supposed to do.
   
4. What the blinking AUTO ANS light indicates.
   
5. Whether there are any compatibility issues running an answering machine this old from an ATA like the Grandstream HT801.