What are the differences between Tianyi Gateway 3.0 and 4.0? Do you need to upgrade to a modem for a gigabit mode? I'll check both generations of machines before paying

Last month,

colleague Xiao Zhou upgraded broadband from 500 Mbps to 1000 Mbps. The installer came to check the optical modem and said, "This is Tianyi Gateway 3.0, can't run gigabit modem, you need to switch to a 4.0 one," quoting over 200 yuan, and then said the integrated package could offset the discount. Xiao Zhou wasn't sure, so he called me at night to ask: What's the difference between 3.0 and 4.0, and whether this money should be spent? I asked him to first take a photo of the sticker on the back of the cat for me, then compared the specs of his ZTE F7015T with his Huawei device. After accompanying him through the replacement process over the weekend, this article lays out the details clearly.

clarify: 3.0 and 4.0 are not model numbers, but two batches of procurement standards for Telecom

Many people think Tianyi Gateway 3.0 or 4.0 are models for a particular machine, but that's not the case. This is the generational standard for China Telecom's Spotlight Cat, where a bunch of Huawei, ZTE, and TEWA machines will win the bid simultaneously. Going back, there was the E8-C batch of 100-megabit antiques, then 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and so on. The main optical modem in the FTTR package promoted at the current service center is basically 4.0 specs and higher. I broke up its accounts in the article about whether to install it in FTTR.

machine configurations of the same generation vary. My ZTE F7015T is a 3.0 generation model, but it only pairs gigabit port 1 with 100Mbps, and IPTV port is still 100Mbps. I thoroughly covered this pitfall in my post on how to distinguish between gigabit and hundred-gigabit ports — my colleague's 93Mbps broadband just plugged in the wrong port. So generational switching is a "passing line" concept: 3.0 machines can definitely run GPON gigabit broadband, but not every port is willing to give gigabits.

Five Hard Metrics Comparison: What Are the Differences Between the Two Generations of Machines

I arranged the specs of two generations of machines side by side, and the differences always revolve around these five points:

the most valuable items in the table are the first three lines. PON is the standard on fiber optics; GPON downlink 2.5G is still shared across the entire street, but in reality, gigabit broadband is at its peak; 10G-PON is the 10-gigabit channel. Here's a common crossroads: 10G-PON is divided into two technical routes: 10G EPON and XG-PON. Huawei HN8145X6 go for the former, while the ZTE F7607P goes for the latter. The optical signal standards of these two routes are not interchangeable. When buying a second-hand cat, you need to first clarify which type the local data center is used in. If you buy the wrong PON, you won't be able to register the LON light. The network port is even more direct: gigabit is theoretically 125MB/s, with actual tests capping around 940MB; The 2.5G port theoretically reaches 312MB/s, which is the key to breaking the gigabit mark in the future.

the last line of the table is the price many people overlook. The F7607P teardown data shows a quad-core A53 1.1GHz with 512MB of RAM, standby at 12.8W, power supply up to 12V2A, and 112 kWh per year, costing 60 to 70 yuan—almost double the power consumption of 3.0 generation machines. Don't underestimate these tens of watts. Packed in a poorly ventilated weak current box, summer is like a small heater, with high light decay and probability crashes. When building the system, it's worth giving 4.0 a breathable spot.

three tricks to identify which generation your home has: check the network port, check the WiFi, and check the model

master can tell the generational relationship with just a glance at the cat, relying on three features that you can check at home yourself.

first trick is checking the network port. This is a high-probability method: the 100M port is the old E8-C series; only port 1 is gigabit mostly 2.0, full gigabit is basically 3.0, and seeing 2.5G means 4.0 is not running. But a counterexample comes from my family—the F7015T is clearly 3.0 generation but only provides a 1GB Ethernet port. So this move should be judged about 70-80% of the time; don't treat it as an iron rule.

second tip is to check the WiFi specs—it's more stable than the network port. Connect your phone to the optical modem's WiFi. Check the wireless specs in the background or on stickers: single-band 2.4G is 2.0 or earlier, dual-band WiFi 5 is 3.0, and WiFi 6 is basically 4.0. I copied the model numbers from the 192.168.2.1 backend and checked online. I compared the generation models in my teardown listed about a dozen of the most common models from Huawei, ZTE, and Bell, so just assign them accordingly.

third trick is the easiest and most accurate: call directly and ask. Submit the installation address and ID number. Numbers 10000 can reveal the registered model of your fiber modem, and even ask whether it's an operator asset.

4.0 The Three Truly Valuable Things

back to Xiao Zhou's question: Gigabit broadband, is the 3.0 Cat really a loss? In actual tests, it's not much loss, but there are three scenarios where 4.0 is truly attractive.

First, broadband above gigabit can run smoothly. The Xiao Zhou installed 1000 Mbps, and the 3.0 gigabit port measured around 940 Mbps, which is hard to detect in daily life; But if one day it reaches 2000 Mbps, 3.0 will be a stalemate, and 4.0's 2.5G port with an ultra-gigabit package can reach around 2200 Mbps. The price difference lies in this ceiling line.

second, the 2.5G port itself. Plug a 2.5G network card into the desktop, connect the network cable directly to the optical modem 2.5G port, and file copying from the internal network can be upgraded from a 125MB/s ceiling to 250MB/s or higher; The F7607P also has multiple SFP optical ports, so those who use fiber intranets can keep tinkering. Of course, the premise is that your device side must keep up; the modem alone is almost useless.

third, WiFi 6 is a free pickup. 4.0 comes with WiFi 6. If you haven't bought a router yet and your apartment is small, using the fiber modem's WiFi directly can save you the cost of a router. Who is suitable for this? I wrote a list of four types of people in the article Is the built-in WiFi of the fiber modem enough On the other hand, if you already have your own router at home, this benefit is effectively voided.

four types of people, don't rush to switch; don't let the master's words lead you away

my home is a living example: Gigabit broadband, F7015T bridges dial-up AX3000T, tested at 940 Mbps, my whole family never had issues, I never switched. Who is like me, who doesn't need to move? For 500Mbps or less, GPON is more than enough, and switching to 4.0 doesn't increase speed at all; If you switch to a bridge or have your own router, the modem only does the photovoltaic switch, so WiFi 6 and built-in data aren't needed; If your house is small and has few devices, even WiFi 5 3.0 is enough to fill the space; And those who find it troublesome—switching to 4.0 still gets the ITMS system pushed in the middle of the night, and modifying the bridge system might still get pushed back. I wrote about this temperament very well in ITMS : a machine upgrade doesn't change its fate.

only two types of upgrades are truly worth upgrading: plans above gigabit or planning to upgrade, and those wanting a 2.5G port to play the internal network. Xiao Zhou belongs to the former; 2,000 trillion is included in the plan, and this money is well spent.

Three

Ways to Change and the Complete Checklist After Replacement

want to switch, there are three options. The best way is to call 10,000 or visit a service center and clearly state "Gigabit or above plan for 10-Gigabit fiber modem." In many regions, this cost is offset by the plan or is directly free. In Xiaozhou, a 159 yuan integrated plan is HN8145X6 forfeit, and policies vary greatly by region. Call first to clarify before having a technician come to your door. Don't beat the bell—just provide your device address and say you want to upgrade to gigabit or above broadband, and ask if the fiber modem should be replaced simultaneously. The second is to ask the technician to replace the device during installation or relocation, so the technician already has the machine on hand, saving you a hassle and even getting free debugging during months with tight maintenance tasks. The third is to buy a second-hand one and register it through LOID. The used F7607P is just over 200 yuan, half the price of the official price. I recorded the entire process in the of the TEWA-750G registration for 50 yuan . A reminder: before buying, have the seller unbind the device. Most second-hand devices can't handle IPTV and voice services, so just internet access is fine. Double-check whether the PON route matches the local bureau.

Before switching

, there are three things you must do: go backend and take a screenshot of the WAN connection table, and don't lose your IPTV VLAN; export a copy of the configuration file , and all the bridge parameters for Lao Mao are in it; Copy the broadband account once. After replacement, don't rush to see the technician off. First, check the PON light registration status. I wrote about the registration mechanism and sticking points in the PON light kept flashing , then test the five items for installation and acceptance again and note down the light degradation data. Turns out it was a bridge connection. The new cat needs to redo the bridging process. Four things to clean up afterwards, I'll write them at the end of the on the optical cat bridging section.

Remember one thing in

order: first ask about the 10000 policy, then decide which route to take. Replace the front copy of the VLAN guide configuration, then the afterward acceptance and light decay speed test. The whole setup takes half an hour. The weekend after Xiao Zhou switched to HN8145X6, the 2000 Mbps wasn't even visible, so he ran a 1013 Mbps speed test screenshot and sent it to me. The gigabit 940 looks like it's over. If you ask me, if the cat is enough, don't mess with it. Packages and needs arrive first, then the machine follows, and the order isn't reversed.