Sam Berlin

Founder and principal writer at The Basic Hub.

Sam Berlin 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: [email protected]

Articles by Sam Berlin

Move Your Body June 22, 2026
Walking, swimming, cycling, rowing — and one we left out on purpose.
VPNs - What They Actually Do (And Don't Do) 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 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.
Competition and Co-operation June 1, 2026
Why the most misunderstood idea about free markets is that they are only about competition.
The Cracked Screen June 1, 2026
A simple story that changes how you see every economic argument you hear.
The One Lesson June 1, 2026
The single idea that separates clear economic thinking from confusion.