One of my friends has become a Ham. He is trying to so some satellite work on the NOAA 15 satellite. He apparently has the software working in his computer, but needs to find or make a good antenna for the setup. ( that's all I know so far as to his equipment.) He says he can barely see anything on the waterall display. I dont think he has much for any real gain on the antenna he has.

If any of you know much about this, what antenna ( probably more of the portable variety over towered.) would anyone suggest?

I also am not sure what antenna design software he might want to look at...and wha kind of antenna to design. ( I'm thinking helical)

Let me know on ideas that I might pass onto him. I know the description is vague, bug that what i have to work with. Thanks.