Ovation Alpha - Frequently Asked Questions
Orders/Payment:
- I live outside of the United States. Can I order an Ovation Alpha timer?
- What forms of payment do you accept?
- Will you accept purchase orders from corporations or municipalities?
- How long will it take for me to receive my new timer?
- What is your return policy and warranty?
About the Timer:
- How much does the Ovation Alpha timer cost?
- How big is the Ovation Alpha?
- How bright are the Green, Yellow and Red lights?
- Are the lights visible to the operator of the timer?
- What are the common uses of the Ovation Alpha?
- How is the timer powered?
- Why doesn’t the Ovation Alpha use batteries?
Operation:
- What are the default preset settings?
- Can I customize the preset illumination times?
- What happens if I start the timer before selecting the proper preset for the speech?
- What is the maximum speech length that the Ovation Alpha can time?
General:
- What if I lose my power adapter?
- What is your privacy policy?
- Who is the figure on your website header?
I live outside of the United States. Can I order an Ovation Alpha timer?
At this time, we only ship the Ovation Alpha timer within the United States. We are a small company and this is a relatively low-volume product. Our current market potential outside the US is too small to support the considerable costs of obtaining the required government agency approvals in each individual country.
However, we are keeping tabs on this situation and if the demand is high enough, we may choose to offer the Ovation Alpha for sale in other countries in the future. If that occurs, we will make an announcement on our home page and via a press release.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover.
Will you accept purchase orders from corporations or municipalities?
We will process purchase orders for orders of five (5) units or more ONLY (please contact us for more information or to place such an order). For smaller quantities, the order must be placed through our website using a credit card.
How long will it take for me to receive my new timer?
We generally aim to ship the timer within a day or two of receiving an order. We ship all orders via Priority Mail, which we've found usually delivers the timer to its recipient in one to two days, no matter where they are located in the United States.
What is your return policy and warranty?
If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, you may return it for a full refund within 30 days. The unit is guaranteed against manufacturing defects for 1 year.
How much does the Ovation Alpha timer cost?
The price for the timer is $125, plus $8.50 for shipping and handling. If you are a California resident, you will also be charged sales tax.
How big is the Ovation Alpha?
The dimensions for the Ovation Alpha timer are: 4 x 5.7 x 1.3 inches (102 x 142 x 35 millimeters).
How bright are the Green, Yellow and Red lights?
The LEDs used in the Ovation Alpha are of an enhanced high-intensity type. They are easily visible from more than 50 feet in front of the unit.
Are the lights visible to the operator of the timer?
The Green, Yellow, and Red lights illuminate the transparent edge of the enclosure to allow the operator to see them. You can see this if you play the video on the "How It Works" page.
What are the common uses of the Ovation Alpha?
The Ovation Alpha timer can be used for a variety of purposes! Some of the most common applications are listed below. However, this is by no means an exhaustive list!
- Public Speaking Club Meetings
- Debate Teams
- Classroom Uses
- Speech Rehearsal
- Business Meetings
- Panel Discussions
- Preparation for Trials & Depositions
- Courtroom Testimonials
- Public Hearings
- Stockholder Meetings
- Homeowners Associations
- Media Training
- Radio or Television Broadcasting
- Webinars
- Stage Performances
- Game Clubs (Chess, Scrabble, etc.)
How is the timer powered?
The Ovation Alpha is powered by means of a standard USB power adapter (included) that plugs into a wall outlet. This power adapter is similar to the type used as a charger for many cellular phones. The cord on the power adapter is 6 feet in length.
Why doesn’t the Ovation Alpha use batteries?
The main reason is that batteries tend to go dead at the most inopportune times and could ruin someone’s speech. If we require that the timer is plugged in, this will never be a problem.
Having said this, if you’re stuck and you really need a battery-powered unit, you can buy an external battery-powered USB power supply for the Ovation Alpha here. It uses four AA batteries. We’ve tried it, and it works great!
What are the default preset settings?
The standard presets for the Ovation Alpha timer are as follows but may be easily modified to suit your organization's needs (see the next question for more information):
| Standard Presets | Green Light | Yellow Light | Red Light |
|---|---|---|---|
| Table Topics | 1:00 | 1:30 | 2:00 |
| Evaluations | 2:00 | 2:30 | 3:00 |
| 4-6 Minute Speech | 4:00 | 5:00 | 6:00 |
| 5-7 Minute Speech | 5:00 | 6:00 | 7:00 |
| 8-10 Minute Speech | 8:00 | 9:00 | 10:00 |
Can I customize the preset illumination times?
Yes. Please see the Set-up and User Guide for detailed instructions on how to customize the presets.
What happens if I start the timer before selecting the proper preset for the speech?
No problem. You may seamlessly select another preset or make illumination time adjustments even while the stopwatch is running.
What is the maximum speech length that the Ovation Alpha can time?
The Ovation Alpha can count up to 99 minutes and 59 seconds.
What if I lose my power adapter?
Replacement power adapters may be purchased at Radio Shack or similar electronics stores.
What is your privacy policy?
We do not sell or release your information to others. We always maintain the privacy of your information.
Who is the figure on your website header?
The figure is that of Chronos, the ancient Greek god of time. Chronos is usually portrayed as an old, wise man with a long, gray beard, such as "Father Time." His name actually means "time," and is alternatively spelled Khronos (transliteration of the Greek) or Chronus (Latin version). For more information about Chronos, see Wikipedia.