Blockstream Jade is capable of communicating with a companion app solely using QR codes, which requires scanning with the cameras on both Jade and your desktop or mobile phone. Below are several tips that can improve the scanning performance, speed, and reliability using each device.
In general, the best experience will come from:
- Using a companion device with a large screen and a high quality camera, such as those found on mobile phones.
- Improving your lightning conditions until QR codes are being scanned easier, which usually comes from minimizing shadows, reflections, and glare.
Tip: We recommend Nunchuk on mobile for Jade air-gapped use due to its support of QR-related features, as well as Specter on desktop in combination with solutions like Continuity Camera or other 3rd party apps.
Improve Scanning with Jade's Camera
The following tips will improve scanning QRs that are displayed on your companion device's screen, which will be read by Jade's camera:
- Turn off Dark Mode in your companion device's system or app settings, which can cause high camera sensitivity leading to poor performance.
- Adjust the distance at which you place Jade in relation to the QR codes. Typically, Jade being further away than assumed to be ideal will lead to better scanning.
- Move to different lighting conditions (natural light is usually helpful).
- Change the companion app's QR density to medium or low (if available on your specific platform).
- Zoom in or increase the size of the QR codes on screen (if available on your specific platform).
- Clean the protective lens covering Jade's camera to ensure there are no obstructions.
- If scanning a SeedQR, ensure that it is large enough and high-contrast (white background, well-marked black pixels).
Improve Scanning with Companion Device's Camera
The following tips will improve scanning QRs that are displayed on Jade's screen, which will be read by your companion device:
- While a PSBT QR code is displayed on Jade, select Options then QR Density and change this setting to Low (xpub QR codes already default to Low).
- Turn down Jade's screen brightness by selecting Options from the main menu, then Device, Settings, Display Brightness.
- Try a companion app that supports auto-focus (ex. Nunchuk), or close and reopen your companion device's camera to reset the focus.
- If on a laptop, use a native or 3rd party application to use your phone's camera instead of the built-in web camera, which may be of low quality (i.e. Continuity Camera supported on Apple devices or other solutions for Android/Windows/Linux). Alternatively you can record the QR codes with your mobile device, then scan them off of your phone's larger screen with your webcam.