The new wire is longer and thinner than the standard JR antennas. It also has a strain relief next to the PCB. IIRC the Horizon techs tweaked the receiver slightly and checked to make sure that it was tuned properly before returning it. The recall is probably still in effect, and free - if your receivers don't have blue dots on them you might as well send them in.

As for the hidden meaning - way back in the 1920's product inspectors at the German radio manufacturer Ideal began painting a small blue dot on earphones that met their standards.

That mark became so identified with quality that late in the 1930's the company changed its name to reflect their trademark "blaue punkt" - which literally means "blue dot."

The company is still around today.

Ever heard of Blaupunkt?