Hi Mike!
So what is the state of affairs really with SSB sats in the US? It seems that they're more active in Europe.
There are fewer operators working SSB than FM via satellite, but there are some. FO-29 may not be the best example of SSB satellite activity - or lack thereof - due to its pass times. During the week, it passes by way too early in the morning and during the workday in the afternoon for me to get on. I will try to work FO-29 passes on some weekend afternoons, and whenever I am operating away from home.
If you are looking for more activity, don't forget to try AO-7 and VO-52. When it isn't blazing hot here in the desert, I'll work them on weeknights. Most of my satellite time, FM or SSB, is confined to the weekends. I have not tried mode A on AO-7 due to not having an adequate portable 10m antenna, but have had lots of fun with mode B. VO-52 is where many start out on SSB satellite operating, with its strong downlink. I operate a portable all-mode satellite station in the absence of a home station, and have fun using all the FM and SSB satellites. I plan on being somewhere in Arizona this weekend for Field Day working satellites. Maybe even some HF and 6m, depending on time, and all at 5W (I have worked Field Days as a 1B/1-op/battery station since 2001, and on the satellites since 2006).
As for W9KE's comment about a Yahoogroup (or, as others mentioned, a web-based forum) instead of this e-mail list, I know there are advantages for both. For me, I can use an e-mail client on a computer or mobile phone, or free e-mail services like Gmail, to track AMSAT-BB messages by discussion thread and post to the list. A browser isn't mandatory to participate on this list, which is helpful when away from home and my mobile phone may be my only Internet access. Google does a great job of searching AMSAT-BB messages, since the message archives are publicly available - a great way to combine the "old school" e-mail list with the modern ability to quickly search for messages posted to the list.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/