A simplified, practical vector network analyzer (VNA) that uses mature radio-over-fiber technology has been designed and demonstrated. The measurement concept allows the full S-parameters of a microwave device (or antenna) to be obtained while minimizing the detrimental effects of electrical cables, which are replaced with a photonic link. A variety of high-frequency light modulation schemes with frequency sweeping capabilities are presented to realize a one-path (single, forward), frequency-multiplied optical link for VNA applications. Using the photonic one-path link, full two-port S-parameters have been extracted based on five-term error modeling, which has half the error terms compared with the standard duplex configuration. The S-parameters of a microwave filter and antenna measured using frequency-multiplied optical links are found to be in good agreement with those obtained using a conventional VNA.