One other important thing to remember about SO-50. Unlike AO-51 and AO-27, it does not transmit a carrier. You won't hear any noise unless someone is transmitting. You can't just wave your antenna around and peak for maximum on a carrier. So unless you are running full duplex and can hear your own signal, in times of low activity you don't know if you are getting into the bird.
Although SO-50 is not as strong as the other birds, you can work it easily with an HT and an Elk or Arrow handheld antenna.
73, Bill NZ5N
SO-50 is difficult to work for two reasons, in my opinion:
1 - Its power level is a nominal 250 milliwatts (.25 watt).
2 - It is transmitting that quarter-watt into a 0-gain quarter-wave vertical mounted on one corner of the satellite.
This truly is the QRPp space-radio station! There is a very good chance that you are doing nothing wrong. I encourage you, however, to try working a pass without Doppler control. Let your ears guide you for the Doppler tuning, based on the relative noise level as the pass unfolds, and park your uplink at 145.850.
The very best of luck. Please let us know how you progress.
73,
Tim - N3Tl Athens, Ga. - EM84ha