Not that I'm any kind of expert... you and Thor know we're still having trouble too. :-) But here's a couple ideas:
1. I think I remember you saying that things were going pretty well until you expanded Thor's reign (even though it was only for 30 min or something like that). Correct me if I'm remembering wrong. But anyways, maybe you could expand his area at a much much slower rate, to let him "expand" his den at a pace that makes more sense to him, so he doesn't get confused. We used collapsed cardboard boxes that we taped together and then to walls (not pretty, but infinitely adjustable and cheap) instead of baby gates. Nikko's area expanded at a rate of literally about 6 square feet every several days thanks to these boxes.
2. Maybe either you should pick outside or potty pads, not do both. Or maybe you should go for outside only - I've heard some stories of dogs never being reliable on pads, but once they get to go outside only and the pads are eliminated, they become reliable. I dunno - I'm kind of an outside-only snob, so maybe you shouldn't listen to me on this point, lol. Or you could pick pads only. But it's an idea anyhow.
3. I've heard belly bands can actually in some cases help potty training.... some doggies don't like their stomach to get wet, so that can serve as a deterrent on its own.
4. Sheesh, it's only been 6 weeks!?!?! We've been at it for coming up on three months, and it sounds like we're about at the same place you are! I know Thor is older, but still - I'm sure he has as many bad habits to break as Nikko has maturity and bladder control to gain. Don't you dare give up yet!!!!!!!
Lauren & Nikko