Copyrights for Promenade C1

[Guest]

Anyone know if the copyrights for the Promenade C1 are still active?

[Guest]

The reason I'm asking is I have reverse engineered the C1.

I use the programmer on my 128D and I have to remove the 80 col. output connector because it's in the way. That leaves the 40 col. screen. I don't know about you but I prefer the 80 col. screen.

I laid out the board with the connector offset to the right to clear the connector. Had two boards made up and put one together. The programmer works fine. Now I know I have a good schematic, PCB layout, component layout and parts list.

I want to share it with other C1 owners but don't want to end up in court with all my computer equipment taken away.

How do you find about old copyrights?

[Mark Smith]

Sorry silly question here .. what is the Promenade C1 ?

oh hang on .. EPROM programmer ?

[Andrew Wiskow]

I use the programmer on my 128D and I have to remove the 80 col. output connector because it's in the way. That leaves the 40 col. screen. I don't know about you but I prefer the 80 col. screen.

I know what you mean...  I have the same problem with my VIC-1011A RS-232 Interface that I run my BBS on.  I had to remove the casing of the VIC-1011A in order to be able to use it and still have the RGB connector in place.

As for the Promenade C1...  I don't know anything about the status of the copyright...  But would you be willing to make one for me???  :tillfreds:

-Andrew

[Guest]

Sorry silly question here .. what is the Promenade C1 ?

oh hang on .. EPROM programmer ?

Yes, it's an EPROM programmer designed for the C64/C128, somewhere around year 1988.

[Guest]

I use the programmer on my 128D and I have to remove the 80 col. output connector because it's in the way. That leaves the 40 col. screen. I don't know about you but I prefer the 80 col. screen.

I know what you mean...  I have the same problem with my VIC-1011A RS-232 Interface that I run my BBS on.  I had to remove the casing of the VIC-1011A in order to be able to use it and still have the RGB connector in place.

As for the Promenade C1...  I don't know anything about the status of the copyright...  But would you be willing to make one for me???  :tillfreds:

-Andrew

Yes, I would make one for you if I would not get in trouble with the copyright holder.
All parts, including the PCB (without a housing) would be about $100 US, + shipping.
Labor would be free.:|

 Dan...

[Andrew Wiskow]

The Promenade C1 manual posted at http://www.zimmers.net/anonftp/pub/cbm/c64/manuals/Promenade.txt shows the following contact info:

JASON-RANHEIM COMPANY
3105 Gayle Lane
Auburn, Calif. 95602
(530) 878-0785

This is noted as being current as of January 1999.  The manual also states:

        Notes: This document is a copy of the manual
        that came with a product once made by the
        Jason-Ranheim company of Auburn, California,
        USA. Ward Shrake spoke to the head of said
        company on January 23, 1999 via telephone.
        Ward asked for permission to put the manual
        into electronically-readable form, and to be
        allowed to make it freely available on the
        Internet. Ward was given permission to do
        these things. The Jason-Ranheim company no
        longer sells or supports Commodore products.
        As such, they saw no harm in allowing their
        copyrighted materials be used in this way by
        people who still have access to the PROMENADE.
        (Their main concern was that I release the
        most recent software version; "PROMOS 2.0".)

and...

        Note that the Jason-Ranheim Company no longer
        supports this product in any way, other than
        to allow non-profit distribution of this text.
        Please do not pester them about this product
        or any other Commodore 8-bit product! (However,
        I bet they'd love to hear from folks who are
        interested in their current product line?)

So...  I guess you could try to contact them...  Based on that last paragraph, however, I'd personally consider it abandonware.  But, I understand that you want to cover all your bases in order to avoid any legal complications.  If you do decide that it's okay to make them, and you're serious about making one for me for $100 plus shipping, then I'm definately interested!  Let me know...   :-)

-Andrew

[Guest]

I'll make one with the remaining PCB and test it. I'll let you know when it's finished.

Dan...

[Guest]

So...  I guess you could try to contact them...  Based on that last paragraph, however, I'd personally consider it abandonware.  But, I understand that you want to cover all your bases in order to avoid any legal complications.  If you do decide that it's okay to make them, and you're serious about making one for me for $100 plus shipping, then I'm definately interested!  Let me know...   :-)

-Andrew

Andrew, the EPROM Programmer is ready if you are still interested.

Dan...

[Andrew Wiskow]

Andrew, the EPROM Programmer is ready if you are still interested.

Dan...

That was fast!  

I'll send you a PM...

-Andrew

[RobertB]

At next year's CommVEx v4, Greg Alekwel (sp?) has said he wants to give a presentation on how to use the Promenade.  Maybe finally I can make use of mine!  :-)

In need of training,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug

[Andrew Wiskow]

At next year's CommVEx v4, Greg Alekwel (sp?) has said he wants to give a presentation on how to use the Promenade.  Maybe finally I can make use of mine!  :-)

By that time, I should have my "clone" and know how to use it...  So I could bring it along to CommVEx, too.  

-Andrew

[Guest]

RobertB wrote:
At next year's CommVEx v4, Greg Alekwel (sp?) has said he wants to give a presentation on how to use the Promenade.  Maybe finally I can make use of mine!  :-)

By that time, I should have my "clone" and know how to use it...  So I could bring it along to CommVEx, too.  

-Andrew

It's not that difficult. Do you do any ML programming? Can you use the ML monitor in the C128?

I have a little project in mind for everyone that has a programmer. It will help anyone to get familiar with what a programmer can do besides updating system ROMs.

The project will make use of the two unimplemented tokens (quit and off) in Basic 7.0.

Quit will become PSCN, which will send screen text to the printer (device 4) and OFF will become LLT, which will send a basic program listing to the printer. It works just like the list command only the output goes to the printer (again device 4). You can print out any portion or all lines of a basic program. No more OPEN4 and CLOSE4.

It won't interfere with any basic programs that you run or create. The commands will not work in a basic program. They are just a utility like HELP or RENUMBER or LIST.

I changed my system back in the early 90's and have not had any problems with the changes interfering with any programs.

If some of you are interested, I'll get working on it.

Dan...

[RobertB]

It's not that difficult. Do you do any ML programming? Can you use the ML monitor in the C128?

Not one bit!  :-)  However, Al Jackson, president of the Clark County Commodore Computer Club (Las Vegas), makes using the Promenade sound easy.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug

[Guest]

Dan wrote:
It's not that difficult. Do you do any ML programming? Can you use the ML monitor in the C128?

Not one bit!  :-)  However, Al Jackson, president of the Clark County Commodore Computer Club (Las Vegas), makes using the Promenade sound easy.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug

The Promenade C1 is simple to use if all you want to do is copy other EPROMs, like update versions of system ROMs or make copies of JiffyDos for another computer or make copies of ROM images of games taken from the internet.

What if there is something about your operating system that bothers you, like the stepper motor on your disk drive ratcheting to track 1 - sector 0 every time you reset or turn on your computer. Without it a simple "BOOT" + CR, will auto boot your disk.

What if there are routines that you feel should have been put in the OS in the first place. Like a print screen routine for printing directories and other text or an easy way to print out you program listing or an easy way to merge two basic programs.

What if you want to put your favorite programs in ROM and install them on a cartridge or the internal ROM slot in the C128.

To do these things you will have to know how to use the ML Monitor and know a little about Machine Language.

I have read some of the comments made on this forum and I know some of you want to do other things with your EPROM programmers.

On my system I have made small changes like when the computer prints the ready prompt it says "OK DAN, I'M READY" and big things like filling a 27011 EPROM (1 meg) with my favorite programs, MERLIN 128, WORD WRITER 128, DISK EDITOR, single/dual DISK COPIER, single/dual FILE COPIER and other routines.

All I'm trying to do is offer to help you get started.

Dan...

[swordfish1030]

big

[swordfish1030]

Forgot to ask, where are you getting chips from?

[Guest]

Forgot to ask, where are you getting chips from?

There is a seller on EBay (Item number: 320168155015) buy it now price $9.95.

As everyone says around here, ( BACK IN THE DAY ), I paid $3.50 ea. for them.
I bought several back then and I only have two left.

I'm working on a project that will program 27010, 27020 and 27040 EPROMs
using the Promenade C1. The 27040 is a 4 meg EPROM.

Dan...

[airship]

This guy's got 27C series EPROMs in various sizes for $1.99 each. Is that what you want? I seem to recall those being the standard pin-for-pin replacement back in the day.

http://www.arcadecomponents.com/page/page/2251646.htm

He'll even program them for $10 apiece if you can't do it yourself. Of course, he also sells Commodore ROMs on another page, as well as other replacement chips.

DISCLAIMER: I have never purchased from him.

[Andrew Wiskow]

I finally got around to taking a photo of the Promenade C1 Clone that I bought from C128RETIRED.  Here it is:



So far, it seems to be working great!  

-Andrew

[Andrew Wiskow]

I sent an e-mail to Dan (aka "C128RETIRED") to ask him if he'd be willing to make more of these Promenade C1 clones for other people.  I also asked him if it'd be alright if I post copies of the schematics he sent me along with the manual on my website.

I just received a reply from him....  Here's a copy of his e-mail:

Hi Andrew, it's good to hear from you.

I think when you get familiar with the Promenade C1, you'll find all kinds of things to do with your Commodore machines.

You can give out my email address to any one that is interested in buying a new programmer or manual. I have spent a lot of time making up the manual and I would like to get $5.00 each for the first ten copies. As soon as I sell ten copies, I will send you the pdf files to put on your website. I will email the pdf files to anyone that will send me $5.00 for my effort. There are two pdf files, one is the manual complete with schematics on an A-size (8 ½ x 11) page. The other pdf file is schematics only on a B-size (11 x 17) page for anyone with access to a B-size printer.

I am working on an adapter that can be used with the Promenade C1 that will allow someone with a C1 programmer to program a 1meg, 2meg, 4meg and 8meg EPROM (27C010, 27C020, 27C040, 27C080). My prototype works real well.

As an example of the amount of storage, a person could put 64 ea. 16k cartridge programs in one 8meg EPROM. I am laying out PCBs for the Internal ROM socket for the C128/128D and the expansion port for the C64 and C128 that will allow the EPROMs to be used on both computers.

If there is a lot of interest in the adapter, I plan to layout a new programmer that will incorporate the adapter internally in the programmer.

Let me know if you have problems with your programmer and/or let me know of your progress.

Dan.

So... If anyone is interested in getting one of these Promenade C1 clones, or getting a copy of the manual and/or schematics, send me a PM here and I'll give you Dan's e-mail address.

-Andrew