EVE New Citizens Q&A

Tech 2 modules are better in some parts, but worse in others... (such as T2 ECM mods are worse than Meta4 ECM mods).
The required skills for using those not only required to use them, they can provide support for their T1 variants thus enabling you to have better results in both T2, T1 items.

If you see a fit with T2 items, you can simply look up the item, go to its info page, then to Variations, and there you will see the "types" of the same item, look in the information for each item until you find the one with "meta 4" in "Meta Level" attribute... that is the one you want to use as a replacement for the T2 item you cannot use, and it is called "Best named mod", so you replace the T2 item with its best named module you can use/afford... (until you can use that T2 module).

For example, if you cannot use this turret: Dual Light Pulse Laser II, then you can use the next lower level variation from it: Dual Modulated Pulse Energy Beam I, that is the best named mod variation of the T2 turret above (with Meta Level 4 in its attributes)... This goes for all of the other modules around, and if you cannot afford meta4 level module, then go lower to meta3, and so on.

A note on Damage Control II module: You do NOT want to use the meta 4 variant of the damage control (for now) because it is very much expensive compared to its other variants, get either a T2 DC or a meta 3 one

That's why I typed on every fit note: "Replace T2 items you cannot use with best named mod".

Hope this helped clearing the confusion a bit.