Quick question: what does 'hex' mean?

Comhrá

Could someone tell me, please, what the hex value means on the left-hand column of A/C data on Flightradar24?

Thanks.

John.




Airline: Air Canada

Flight: AC839

From: Frankfurt, Main (FRA)

To: Ottawa, Ottawa (YOW)

Aircraft: Boeing 767-375 (B763)

Reg: C-GEOQ

Hex: C050B5

Altitude: 34000 ft (10363 m)

Speed: 457 kt (846 km/h, 526 mph)

Track: 288°

Pos: 53.3169 / -10.9867

Radar: EINN1

xflyer

It's the unique code assigned to the mode S transponder on board the aircraft. In the absence of any other information you can identify the individual aircraft from it.

Comhrá

Thanks xflyer!

A320

Exactly what xflyer said,its a 24 bit address in hexidecimal form as its easier and denoted shorter,6 characters of 4 bits.This also determines on TCAS systems which aircraft takes evasive manouevers,the a/c with highest address does, there's also a lot of smart stuff built into this code with ATC Xponder interrogations
If an A/C changes reg,this also changes,its done by a series of dip switches on the B737NG and a program plug on an airbus a320

coylemj

Funny enough, everyone pronounces it 'hexidecimal' but it's actually hexadecimal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexadecimal

A320

I'll get me coat.....:D