this be a nice economical alarm clock good for travel . the alarm give a gradual increase beeping sound and go for about one minute . it do shut off on its own so if you be a deep sleeper this alarm might not be for you . my recommendation be to buy extra battery immediately . I place the battery in backwards so that it would not die out when I go on trip and upon go on my first business trip the battery be dead . so much for the alarm clock . when not in use my recommendation be to take the battery out .