Have you had any response from David regarding the communication protocol? Meanwhile I tried to use Kstars for Windows but don't seem to be able to install my gear locally. Only remote installation is possible. ("Local" is greyed out).
Do I have to install any drivers. The ascom drivers for my gear I have but do I need indilibrary drivers and how do I install those? Thx.

I didn't get any response since mid-March.. will try to remind him again maybe he's busy.

Hi Jasem,

I contacted David and explained. He sent me and you in Bcc the command protocol for the focus controller.
Hope that helps.

I literally spent the whole day writing a completely new driver for this, but I still can't get any response from the controller. I emailed David to ask for more info and we'll see, but the driver is ready whenever this bit of communication issue is resolved.

Thank you so much Jasem. Really appreciated.

Hi Jasem,

If it helps I have been assured by David Grennan in a recent mail that he would do anything to help you to get something up and running. He also appreciated your efforts.
Meanwhile I have been trying with the new Kstars 2.9.6 and have attached logfile. The odd thing is that although I get messages in INDI control panel saying that the focus controller is connected and moving in steps of e.g. 100 the focusser itself doesn't move at all.
When running under windows and the factory software with ASCOM driver it works fine.

P.S. Just in order to be complete I have to mention that in earlier attemps with Kstars 2.9.5 I did get some movement in the focuser but it appeared to stop working after a few commands. I also attached the logfiles of that trial.

I have committed the new updated HitechAstroDC focuser to indi_dev branch, but as it doesn't work here, I have no idea how to proceed. The code is in Github if anyone is interested to take a look at it, but HID communication with the driver fails beyond the initial handshake.

Thanks Jasem. Appreciate all the work you’ve done. I will check on Github.
Kind regards.

Jasem,
I have worked with the Hitechastrodc focuscontroller from Kstars 2.9.6 and on some occasions I did get a response. The strange thing is that on one occasion it would react and if I try again with a complete shutdown and restart of Kstars the focuscontroller indicates a step change in indi control panel but no movement of the actual focuser. The times it worked I managed to focus in and out, within ekos as well as the indi control panel. The fields for setting an absolute position are greyed out and not accessible. I have attached the logfiles as well as screenshots.

Two more logs attached.

You are still testing the old driver. The new driver is in a different INDI branch here: github.com/indilib/indi/tree/indi_dev

I haven't made any progress on the driver and I don't know how to proceed really. If anyone wants to take a look at the driver and figure out what the HID communication is not working, you'd be doing us a great favor!