[PVRCNC] Updates to 5M Program Process

[Alan Knight]

Due to the increase in the number of 5M contests for 2014 and several
problems Howie and I have  had getting data out of the new
3830scores.compage there will be a few changes to the 5M program
starting in the new
year.  The most noticeable change will be the frequency of updates.
 Instead of trying to update the 5M database after each contest, the
updates will be made once per month.  This will most likely be during the
first week of each month for contests closed in the previous month.

If you submit your score to 3830scores.com and don't use the 5M form, there
should be no difference for you, with one exception.  Your scores will
appear as pending scores once the 3830 data is pulled.  Under the covers,
the way I'll pull data from 3830 has changed significantly.

If you submit your score using the 5M form and don't use 3830, there are a
couple of changes you may see.  The form now checks for valid callsigns in
the Call Used, Operators and Host fields.  Let me know if you run into a
case where a valid callsign is rejected.  Also, if you have to resubmit a
score using the 5M form, the old score will be replaced by the new score
instead of creating a duplicate.

If you use both forms, the data you enter using the 5M form will be
replaced when the data is pulled from 3830.  If your 3830 data is
incorrect, use the 3830scores.com web site to make corrections. If you need
to submit a score for a closed contest, continue to use the 5M form.

The other change is Howie has decided turn over the front end of the score
collection to me.  So, I'll be doing the score collection and the 5M
database maintenance.  Thanks to Howie for helping with the program for the
last few years.

73,
Alan - AA4FU