The frame of the tender is coated with some sort of thick non-conducting paint, which had a very small scrape mark at the end of the frame, which was defeating the isolation of the tender shell (antenna) from the frame.
Application of Kapton tape, together with nylon screws and washers, resolved the problem.
Reception of signal is very strong, all the way across the room with the antenna on the handheld down.
2nd engine with this problem ... now to work on the Weaver converted Big Boy ... which has the same bad behavior as the 902 experienced.
A month to figure out and resolve. Thanks for the Kapton tip, Gunrunner John!
