diff --git a/Source/EsuEcosMiddleman/HSI88USB/DeviceInterface.cs b/Source/EsuEcosMiddleman/HSI88USB/DeviceInterface.cs
index bed18ad..8bc05f3 100644
--- a/Source/EsuEcosMiddleman/HSI88USB/DeviceInterface.cs
+++ b/Source/EsuEcosMiddleman/HSI88USB/DeviceInterface.cs
@@ -181,13 +181,13 @@ public async Task RunAsync()
 
                 try
                 {
-                    _fs = new FileStream(_handle, FileAccess.ReadWrite, buffer.Length, isAsync: true);
+                    _fs = new FileStream(_handle, FileAccess.ReadWrite, buffer.Length, isAsync: false);
                 }
                 catch (Exception ex)
                 {
                     ex.ShowException();
 
-                    Failed?.Invoke(this, EventArgs.Empty);
+                    Failed?.Invoke(this, new DeviceInterfaceEventArgs(ex.GetExceptionMessages()));
                     
                     // highly fatal, no S88-data will be received nor handled
                     return;
@@ -211,6 +211,12 @@ public async Task RunAsync()
                 //var d2 = new DeviceInterfaceData(Encoding.ASCII.GetString(buffer, 0, bytesRead));
                 //DataReceived?.Invoke(this, d2);
 
+                // query device information/version
+                Send($"v\r");
+                bytesRead = _fs.Read(buffer, 0, buffer.Length);
+                var d2 = new DeviceInterfaceData(Encoding.ASCII.GetString(buffer, 0, bytesRead));
+                DataReceived?.Invoke(this, d2);
+
                 var tkn = _cancellationToken.Token;
 
                 while (!tkn.IsCancellationRequested)
diff --git a/Source/EsuEcosMiddleman/Middleman.cs b/Source/EsuEcosMiddleman/Middleman.cs
index e8aa2b4..d502cb3 100644
--- a/Source/EsuEcosMiddleman/Middleman.cs
+++ b/Source/EsuEcosMiddleman/Middleman.cs
@@ -176,10 +176,21 @@ private void SendCurrentHsi88States()
 
         private readonly ConcurrentDictionary<int, string> _hsiStates = new ConcurrentDictionary<int, string>();
 
+        private bool _versionShown = false;
+
         private void Hsi88DeviceOnDataReceived(object sender, DeviceInterfaceData data)
         {
             _cfgRuntime.Logger?.Log.Debug($"HSI-88: {data.Data}");
 
+            if (!_versionShown && data.Data.StartsWith("V", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+            {
+                _versionShown = true;
+
+                _cfgRuntime.Logger?.Log.Info($"HSI-88: {data.Data}");
+
+                return;
+            }
+
             foreach (var it in data.States)
             {
                 _cfgRuntime.Logger?.Log.Debug($"{it.Key} => {it.Value}");
@@ -294,7 +305,7 @@ private void TcpServerInstanceOnMessageReceived(object sender, MessageEventArgs
             }
 
             _cfgRuntime.Logger?.Log.Debug($"Ecos [out]: {eventargs.Message}");
-            
+
             _handler.SendToEcos(eventargs.Message);
         }