NanoVNA and LiteVNA questions

[hem213]

Hello everybody!

Recently I bought a NanoVNA as a part of my lab but I did not research all the options enough and now I am reconsidering. The issue is that I am very interested in antenna, filter, and mixer design exclusively in the microwave range, really nothing else. When I first bought a NanoVNA, I thought which seller was the most important consideration and then the maximum freq when figuring out which NanoVNA to get in the many available options. That is why I got the AURSINC 1.5Ghz version on Amazon. Link below;
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z5VY7B6?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

But looking through this forum and other places, I learned that some versions can that some version use harmonics to reach the microwave range instead of doing it nativity
or that support different types of firmware (like the NanoVNA H-4) like described by the post below;
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/nanovna-h-nanovna-h4-litevna64/msg5162697/#msg5162697
or that some versions have PC software where that have the reactance vs. frequency, Q, R-jX, like shown in the post below;
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/tiny-sa-nano-vna/msg5570661/#msg5570661
or have a very attractive UI like shown in this post below
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/which-nanovna/msg4681822/#msg4681822

Anyway, after doing some more research I have locked in the LITEVNA64 on R and L Electronics, for $159, But I still have questions;

• Are there better alternatives to the LiteVNA64 that are roughly around its price and it's frequency range??
  
  
• (Important) Does this device actually reach 6.3Ghz without using some sort of harmonies? I am aware that all NanoVNAs use square waves which cause problems with harmonies but I am specifically asking if it uses harmonics in any way to extend it's frequency range
  
  
• doing some research on this forum, I've learned that the liteVNA has some problems with bandwidth, specifically when taking narrow-band measurements, what does that actually mean? If for example I'm trying to measure at specifically one gigahertz, am I not able to do that? How does this affect me in the world?
   
  
• (Important) Is there good PC software for the liteVNA that supports functions like the pictures below? are there any software specifically built for the liteVNA in the first place?
  
  
  
• Does the LiteVNA have swappable firmware for different functions or is that something only made for the H-4? If not, is the NanoVNA H-4 worth buying for both it's phase frequency analyzer functionality and it's supposed narrow-band performance below the microwave range (even if I am not particularly focused on that aspect of RF)
  
  

Anyway, if you made it this far, thank you so much for reading my post, I know I'm asking a lot of questions but all this is slightly overwhelming and I just do not know what to do

I will send this post to different but appropriate parts in this forum to try to get as much reach as possible, if that is against the rules, please inform me and I will delete the extra one! I am still new to this community and I'm not 100% aware of the do's and don't's 

[tooki]

I will send this post to different but appropriate parts in this forum to try to get as much reach as possible, if that is against the rules, please inform me and I will delete the extra one! I am still new to this community and I'm not 100% aware of the do's and don't's 

Regardless of rules, I don’t think I’ve ever encountered an online forum where cross-posting is considered good etiquette. It wastes people’s time in multiple ways, and sends the message “I couldn’t be bothered to figure out which subforum is actually the right one”.

[joeqsmith]

I suggest you not post in multiple areas and make use of the search features.  There are also groups.io for the NanoVNA and LiteVNA64.  You should take advantage of these.

Recently I bought a NanoVNA as a part of my lab but I did not research all the options enough and now I am reconsidering.

At least in this case, you're not out any real expense. 

• Are there better alternatives to the LiteVNA64 that are roughly around its price and it's frequency range??

Not that I am aware of.

• (Important) Does this device actually reach 6.3Ghz without using some sort of harmonies? I am aware that all NanoVNAs use square waves which cause problems with harmonies but I am specifically asking if it uses harmonics in any way to extend it's frequency range

No harmonics up to 6.3.  Will support harmonics above 6.3.

• doing some research on this forum, I've learned that the liteVNA has some problems with bandwidth, specifically when taking narrow-band measurements, what does that actually mean? If for example I'm trying to measure at specifically one gigahertz, am I not able to do that? How does this affect me in the world?

You make no mention of crystal filters or other narrow band use, so I am not sure it would affect you.  You already have the NanoVNA anyway.

• (Important) Is there good PC software for the liteVNA that supports functions like the pictures below? are there any software specifically built for the liteVNA in the first place?

I am not sure how you define "good".  There is software for most of the low cost VNAs. Don't make the same mistake twice.  Do your homework.

• Does the LiteVNA have swappable firmware for different functions or is that something only made for the H-4? If not, is the NanoVNA H-4 worth buying for both it's phase frequency analyzer functionality and it's supposed narrow-band performance below the microwave range (even if I am not particularly focused on that aspect of RF)

Not that I'm aware of. 

[hem213]

• (Important) Is there good PC software for the liteVNA that supports functions like the pictures below? are there any software specifically built for the liteVNA in the first place?

I am not sure how you define "good".  There is software for most of the low cost VNAs. Don't make the same mistake twice.  Do your homework.

Hello, when I mean good I mean software like in your post in the following link, https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/nanovna-custom-software/msg5250348/#msg5250348

looking at the screenshot, the software seems the same one as the one in your dropbox link, am I correct to assume that if I use the link I have the appropriate software for the LiteVNA and the NanoVNA H-4?

[wasedadoc]

I will send this post to different but appropriate parts in this forum to try to get as much reach as possible, if that is against the rules, please inform me and I will delete the extra one! I am still new to this community and I'm not 100% aware of the do's and don't's 

Please make good on your undertaking to delete the duplicate(s).

[ftg]

(Important) Is there good PC software for the liteVNA that supports functions like the pictures below? are there any software specifically built for the liteVNA in the first place?

That screen capture was taken from nanovna-saver that was connected to litevna64.
So those particular measurements are definitely available.

[joeqsmith]

Hello, when I mean good I mean software like in your post in the following link, https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/nanovna-custom-software/msg5250348/#msg5250348

looking at the screenshot, the software seems the same one as the one in your dropbox link, am I correct to assume that if I use the link I have the appropriate software for the LiteVNA and the NanoVNA H-4?

Yes. 

My advice is to use one of the popular open sourced applications. 

I did not realize you posted in two other areas (beginners and TE).  You may want to clean that up.     

[hem213]

thank you all!
and all extra posts were deleted, although I was not aware that entire threads could not be deleted so I marked them as "deleted"
apologies for that