Sam Berlin

Founder and principal writer at The Basic Hub.

Sam Berlin (not his real name - his choice) is the founder and principal writer at The Basic Hub. He writes about technology, personal finance, and the practical skills that help people navigate modern life with confidence.

Sam believes that technical knowledge should be accessible to everyone - explained without jargon, assumption, or condescension. Before starting The Basic Hub, he spent years in IT infrastructure and systems administration, where he learned that the simplest explanation is almost always the best one.

He currently lives in Vietnam, where the perpetual summer reminds him that most problems look less intimidating in good light.

Contact: sam.berlin@thebasichub.com

Articles by Sam Berlin

The Hack That Wiped a Man's Baby Photos - and the Five Things It Teaches You About Your Own Accounts August 9, 2026
A hack wiped a year of baby photos. Five lessons to keep your accounts safe.
Your Spare Mini-PC Can Be a NAS - Here Is How August 7, 2026
That low-power mini-PC in the drawer can replace a purpose-built NAS for less money and less electricity. Here is the path that does not end in a Windows networking fight.
Should You Pay Off Debt or Start Saving? July 25, 2026
The answer depends on the interest rate. Here is how to decide.
Compound Interest Explained: Why Time Beats Money July 25, 2026
How money grows on its own, and why starting small beats starting late.
AI Is Free and Actually Useful July 25, 2026
Free AI tools anyone can use, with nothing to install and nothing to pay.
Windows Just Broke My Computer - Here's What to Do July 23, 2026
Microsoft's July update is crashing Dell PCs. Here's the fix in 5 minutes.
The Subscription Purge - Reclaim $1,600 a Year You're Wasting July 23, 2026
The average American wastes $1,600 a year on subscriptions they forgot about. Here's the fix.
Stop Buying WiFi Gear - Diagnose First July 23, 2026
Before you spend money on a mesh system, spend 10 minutes diagnosing the real problem.
Troubleshooting Slow Internet July 5, 2026
A step-by-step guide to figure out why your internet is slow and what you can actually do about it.
Ethernet Cabling - A DIY Guide July 5, 2026
Running Ethernet cables through your house sounds intimidating, but it is simpler than you think. Here is what you need to know.
QoS - Stop Your Buffering July 5, 2026
Quality of Service is the router feature that stops one person's video call from ruining everyone else's gaming or streaming.
What Is a NAS? Your Own Private Cloud July 5, 2026
A NAS is like a hard drive that lives on your network so every device in your house can use it. Here is what you need to know.
Wi-Fi 6, 6E, and 7 - What's the Difference? July 5, 2026
Wi-Fi has generations now, just like cell phones. Here is what each one means for your actual internet speed.
Future-Proofing Your Home Network - Planning for the Next 5 Years June 26, 2026
The decisions you make today will either help or haunt you. Here is what to think about so your network lasts.
Wi-Fi Extenders vs Mesh vs Powerline - The Complete Comparison June 26, 2026
Three ways to fix a weak Wi-Fi signal, three very different results. Here is which one is right for your situation.
Smart Home Devices - Why They Kill Your Wi-Fi and How to Fix It June 26, 2026
Your smart bulb, thermostat, and doorbell are probably ruining your Wi-Fi for everyone else. Here is why and what to do about it.
Parental Controls and Managing Kids Online - What Actually Works June 26, 2026
Blocking websites is a losing game. Here is a better approach to managing children's internet use that actually works with your home network.
Internet Speeds Explained - Mbps, Latency, and What You Actually Need June 26, 2026
Mbps is not the whole story. Latency, jitter, and overhead matter too. Here's what speed actually means.
Move Your Body June 22, 2026
Walking, swimming, cycling, rowing — and one we left out on purpose.
Get Off the Floor (When You Can't Kneel) June 22, 2026
The toe lean stops you falling. This is what you do when it doesn't. No kneeling required.
What Is a VPN? What It Does, What It Doesn't June 19, 2026
Adverts say VPNs make you anonymous and secure. Most of that is exaggerated. Here's what a VPN is good for and when it's a waste of money.
When to Call Your ISP - And What to Say When You Do June 19, 2026
90% of internet problems are not the ISP's fault. Here's how to check before you call, and what to say if you actually need to.
Powerline Adapters - When Wi-Fi Won't Reach and You Can't Run a Cable June 19, 2026
Your home's electrical wiring can carry internet signals. It sounds like magic. It mostly works.
Internet Plans - What to Look For (And What to Ignore) June 19, 2026
ISPs make choosing a plan as confusing as possible on purpose. Here's what actually matters - and what's just marketing.
How to Buy a Router - What Actually Matters June 19, 2026
Router boxes are covered in nonsense like 'AX5400' and 'beamforming.' Here's what to actually look for at every budget.
Home Network Security - What Actually Matters June 18, 2026
Forget what you've seen in movies. The real threats to your home network are simpler than you think, and the fixes are even simpler.
Mesh Wi-Fi Explained - When You Need It, When You Don't June 18, 2026
Mesh systems are popular, but most people don't need one. Here's how to tell if you're the exception.
What a Modem Actually Does - And Why Your ISP Box Probably Does Two Jobs June 18, 2026
The difference between a modem and a router, why your ISP gives you a combined box, and whether you should buy your own.
What Ethernet Actually Is - And Why You Want It June 18, 2026
Wi-Fi is convenient. Ethernet is better. Here's what it is, how it works, and why running one cable can make a big improvement.
Don't Fall June 17, 2026
The most important thing you can learn after 60. One simple exercise, two minutes a day.
OK, I Did the Arm Thing. Now What? June 17, 2026
Still standing. Still no gym. Here's what I do next.
Just Start June 17, 2026
Before routines, before targets, before any of that. Just get out of your chair.
3 Router Settings That Make Your Wi-Fi Faster June 15, 2026
Your router can do more than it's doing. These three settings take five minutes and will make your internet feel faster - especially when the whole family is online.
The 5 Router Settings You Should Change Right Now June 15, 2026
Your router came with a thousand settings. Most you can ignore. These five will keep you safe and save you headaches.
How to Run a Proper Speed Test - Most People Do It Wrong June 15, 2026
That speed test result you're looking at? It's probably lying to you. Here's how to get the real numbers.
Where to Put Your Router - And Why Every Spot You've Tried Is Probably Wrong June 15, 2026
Your router's position matters more than its price. Move it to the right spot and your Wi-Fi problems might disappear without spending a cent.
How to Set Up Separate 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi Networks June 15, 2026
Stop your smart bulb from falling off the network. A gentle, step-by-step guide to splitting your Wi-Fi bands so every device connects to the right one.
Wired vs Mesh Wi-Fi - Should You Wire Your House? June 15, 2026
Ethernet cables are faster but you need to run them through walls. Mesh Wi-Fi is easier but costs more. Here's how to decide.
Wi-Fi 2.4 vs 5 vs 6 GHz Explained Simply June 14, 2026
Why does your phone use one Wi-Fi band and your smart lightbulb another? And what's this new 6 GHz everyone's talking about?
Router vs Modem vs Switch - What Each One Actually Does June 14, 2026
Three boxes, three jobs. Here's what each one does and whether you need all of them.
What Is a Home Network? (The Big Picture) June 14, 2026
Think of the internet as a highway system and your home network as your private driveway. Here's what that means for you.
Win Bigly - Scott Adams June 1, 2026
Why I recommend this book and what it means to link to it.
Independence for Life - Will Harlow June 1, 2026
Why I recommend this book and what it means to link to it.