That is fine. One variable is enough

The setting may be a problem but first tell me in which axis you see the 180deg difference? And what do you compare it with. Unfortunately Celestron app and HC use different zero points and azimuth convention. I do not have stellarmate but I believe it is based on the ubuntu mate and it will be easy to replace standard drivers with testing variants from my PPA (if we need to). Do you have any camera on the scope? Or maybe you can mount a camera with a telephoto lens on the mount - I used to test it that way to have smaller and lighter testing rig.
I think it would be best if you start by using HC with a wired connection to familiarize yourself with ekos and astrometry for the mount and then switch to nse driver.
Then the best testing procedure for NSE driver would be to
1) Connect the driver to the scope and test if you can connect and move the mount with motion buttons (on slow speed and keep your hand on the switch!)
2) Point the mount in any part of the sky take a shot, solve and sync the mount (you should see the position on kstars jup to correct place on the map). Remember to activate and reinit the alignment system in the Alignment tab of the INDI control panel for the driver (use build in math plugin if you have a choice)
3) Repeat for two more points forming a triangle on the sky (it does not need to be large - just sizable)
4) test if the pointing/tracking works on further areas of the sky.
Be careful with meridian - meridian flip is not implemented and at least with initial tests keep your hand on power button for the mount. The driver was developed and tested on AltAz mount and although it was structured to work on EQ it was not tested with such mounts by me.