During a serious downpour, did you rearrange clothing and pack so it was no longer oriented toward the sky? Or did you hunker down in a spot where the sky was obscured? Being in trees makes a big difference, too.

Rather than pull it apart, maybe just set it outside and try sending an OK/check-in signal.

I was out on a short trip Saturday, and mine did not get its signal out many places where we were in areas with lots of tree cover.