>>Why add the shift bit op? Just use:
>>(mybyte & 128) != 0
>
>Just because to show what we are doing. When dealing with bits I find it more 'not hard coded' if I use bitpostion instead:)

FWIW I did not find Michael's solution obscure or hard coded at all, given that one understands hexadecimal. Which one should if one is going to bit twiddle....