I FIXED THIS PROBLEM
i opened the receiver, and had to disassemble the entire thing to get to the four antennas.... connecting them and the actual transmitter circuit are these pretty standard micro coaxial connectors, every single one on mine was loose... not disconnected but clearly loose... i gently squeezed the each one, and pressed them back in place, feeling that they were clearly connected much tighter, reassembled the device and voila! works like day one.