... My daughter, who is a new ham has just given up on trying SO-50 ...
That's really too bad. Maybe you and she got into this aspect of the hobby with different expectations: No, it is not going to be an "easy shot" when we just have this (and the ISS) as the only "easy-to-work" FM birds.
But, then, working '51 was "busy" on the weekends and during "prime time" passes, too.
Do not let her give up. This is a teachable moment! There are those who have manners on the airwaves ... and, unfortunately, there are those who lack manners (and REALLY unfortunately, many a time those without manners have the 100W setups ... ).
Gotta go. I just finished talking to two distant states and a fellow ham here in California on a 20-degree pass of SO-50 - with a whopping 2W handheld. I need to enter my reception report on the LIVE OSCAR SATELLITE STATUS page ... YES, there were a lot of folks on the air on this pass. But if I can do it with minimal equipment on a busy day, surely you and your daughter can do it. Please do not let hew miss out on the excitement of working ham satellites!
Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com