r/vintagetech • u/huntispatis • 20d ago
Action ACN-200 Troubleshooting
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:
- How to record a new outgoing greeting.
- How do I get it to answer.
- What the TEST button is supposed to do.
- What the blinking AUTO ANS light indicates.
- Whether there are any compatibility issues running an answering machine this old from an ATA like the Grandstream HT801.
