It may be that a calibration is not stored in memory 0, so when the unit starts, it starts uncalibrated, and that could cause a display with a lot of unusual activity.
Could also be that the device is using the wrong clock chip mode. There are 2 versions, and if you have an earlier hardware platform (sounds as if you do), then you should be running the Si MODE. (look on the back of the nVNA. if it has _MS in the model, you have an MS device; else you have an Si device) Go to EXPERT SETTINGS, and confirm that the button says Si----. If it says MS----, tap it and change it. Then do a cal over some range...I usually do 50k-900M, and store that in location zero. that way when the device start, it will use a calibration.
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~R~
72/73 de Rich NE1EE
The Dusty Key
On the banks of the Piscataqua