ATC Asked for "IDENT"

[ZACHARY KAPSIOTIS]

In a flight from KJFK to KMCI, I was assigned a squawk code when departing KJFK.  The next center that was online was Indianapolis and my expectation was that I would be assigned a new squawk code.  After I contacted Indianapolis center and provided flight number and flight level, the controller asked me to "IDENT".  Subsequently, he gave me a new squawk code but I feel that I missed something.  Can someone please tell me:

• What did the controller mean by "IDENT" ?  I am assuming he meant to "identify" but I had already done that via voice.
• How do I IDENT ?  Looking at the radio stack, there is a tiny ATC IDENT button (B737-800) and I had pressed it but I don't know what this does or if pressing this button was the correct action.

Thanks

[Matthew Sweeney]

Hello Zachary. When the controller asked you to IDENT, he/she wanted you to push the “ATC IDENT” button on your radio stack. This sends an extra data bit from the transponder and enhances your “display” so the controller can “identify” you on his/her radar screen. Depending on the radar system used by the controller, when you press IDENT, your data block will momentarily flash on the controller’s screen or “ID” may momentarily flash next to your data block for ID purposes.

 

[ZACHARY KAPSIOTIS]

OK, thanks.

[Karl Mathias Moberg]

You can either click the IDENT button on your radio stack, or even better (since not every IDENT button in the cockpit is connected to the pilot client) press the IDENT button in vPilot (next to the Flight Plan button).

 

. 

[ZACHARY KAPSIOTIS]

Even better, thanks !

Zach