The Collision Problem That Crippled Ethernet (And How We Solved It)

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Ever wonder how computers actually talk to each other over a wire? In this episode of ScienceLive, we break it all down — starting with the earliest Ethernet networks running over coaxial cable, through the switch to Cat5 cabling, and into the fundamental building block of all network communication: the packet.

You’ll learn what packets are, how they carry your data across a network, and why early Ethernet had a serious flaw — data collisions that could bring an entire network to its knees. We explain why collisions happen and what they mean for the data you’re trying to send.

Then comes the part we’re most excited about: how my team and I discovered a solution to stop packet collisions entirely, leading to the invention of WideBand networking. In this episode we give you the teaser — next week, we’ll teach you exactly how it works.

This lesson is for anyone who wants to truly understand computer networking from the ground up — how Ethernet came about, how it works, and where it’s headed.

About DrB

Dr. Roger Billings is a visionary innovator whose work has touched the lives of millions of students and transformed the landscape of education. Widely known as ā€œDrBā€ to the countless kids who benefit from his groundbreaking Acellus learning system, Dr. Billings has dedicated his life to advancing education through technology. As part of DrB’s lifelong commitment to supporting education, Science LIVE was launched as a way to ā€œgive backā€ by mentoring students in conjunction with the Roger Billings Scholarship Program.


Read more about DrB » 
About the Roger Billings Scholarship Program Ā»

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2,990 Comments

  1. Ivy

    hello thank you for this knowledge. Loves science live.

    Reply
  2. Finnigan

    I love the internet.

    Reply
  3. Greyson

    Hi from MT

    Reply
  4. Braylon

    Watching live

    Reply
  5. Maddox

    Howdy from Texas!

    Reply
  6. Axel

    Hello from Oklahoma!

    Reply
  7. Ailissa

    Thank you for this live! See you next time!

    Reply
  8. Roseilie

    Commenthi from Idaho

    Reply
  9. Olivia

    Hello from New Jersey!!!

    Reply
  10. Karington

    What is the difference between the Ethernet and the Internet?

    Reply
  11. Harmony

    Internet has come a long way, thankfully.

    Reply
  12. Elisha

    Hello from Tampa/Florida

    Reply
  13. Audrey

    It’s really interesting to see how ethernet works

    Reply
  14. Ian

    Trying to fix all the collisions with the computers on the same wire to make it where all of the computers on different wires. That must have been a lot of try and error to try and perfect it.

    How were we able to fix all of those collisions?

    If there was a collision the data would smash and be lost would it notify the person trying to send the data to try again and then send it?

    Reply
    • Jaxson

      Amazing

      Reply
  15. Alexander

    When they said the signal times were random, I wondered how computers generate random signals?

    Reply
  16. Avery

    hi from Texas!

    Reply
  17. Jeromiah

    When was the first Ethernet cable invented?

    Reply
  18. Emilio

    What other cables are used for computers?

    Reply
  19. Paiton

    Hello from Georgia!

    Reply
  20. Garren

    Hello from Missouri. Another awesome Science Live.

    Reply
    • Sciencelive

      Hello Garren, and welcome! We are super excited to have you here with us tonight!

      Reply
  21. Anthony

    Was Ethernet sent by a cable or or something else.

    Reply
  22. Brayden

    hey from alabama

    Reply
  23. Brynn

    my favorite part of the week is back! always looking forward to the new lives

    Reply
    • Sciencelive

      Hi Brynn! We are so excited that you are back to learn more with us!! Thanks for tuning in!

      Reply
  24. Destiny

    hey from louisianaaa

    Reply
  25. Greyson

    what is Ethernet?

    Reply
  26. Perla

    Hellooooo from texasss

    Reply
  27. Jayden

    I loved this episode, learning about how networks work is nice

    Reply
  28. Lars

    Here from Michigan!!

    Reply
  29. Naomi

    Hi from PA

    Reply
  30. Emily

    thanks for the live!

    Reply
  31. Anthony

    Hello from Alabama! Love learning about the Ethernet, my moms taking a course in networking so she was watching this episode with me.

    Reply
    • Sciencelive

      Hello to you and your mother! Thank you for tuning in!!

      Reply
  32. Casey

    How can you come up with a circuit

    Reply
  33. Calvin

    Hello from Michigan

    Reply
  34. Teyana

    hi from missouri!!

    Reply
  35. Tobe

    yay science live

    Reply
  36. Kenneth

    It’s Kenny from Oregon I hope everyone is having a wonderful day!!!

    Reply
  37. Harley

    Hello from Mississippi!

    Reply
  38. Jorden

    Hello from Maryland. Hope everyone is having a great Wednesday.

    Reply
  39. Chloe

    Hello from Nevada!

    Reply
  40. Clint

    Hello from va

    Reply
  41. Aylianna

    hellooo from nc

    Reply
  42. Jullianna

    This episode was cool

    Reply
  43. Justin

    Great class, thank you

    Reply
  44. Rylee

    hello from ID

    Reply
  45. Kassie

    I like Science LIve

    Reply
    • Sciencelive

      Hello Kassie! We love Science Live! šŸ”¬

      Reply
  46. Deniah

    Hi from Tampa/Florida

    Reply
  47. Sarah

    Hello from Texas!!

    Reply
  48. Camila

    Science live is so cool!

    Reply
  49. Brayden

    I really enjoy listening to these lessons every week.

    Reply
    • Sciencelive

      Hi Brayden we love having you! Thanks for tuning in!

      Reply
  50. Imogene

    hello from texas! ;3

    Reply
  51. Michael

    I learned so much from this

    Reply
  52. Isabel

    Hello from ky!

    Reply
  53. Kyleigh

    Hi from Virginia!

    Reply
  54. Rawah

    Hello from vegas

    Reply
  55. Hailey

    i love these videos

    Reply
  56. William

    Honestly, the way Ethernet works is really cool to be fully honest.

    Reply
    • Sciencelive

      It really is!

      Reply
  57. Maddilynn

    Hello from Maryland!

    Reply
  58. Aurora

    Hi this is Aurora from NC!

    Reply
  59. Elena

    Wow this episode was cool! I did not know about Ethernet or its collisions.

    Reply
  60. Marshall

    Great message today

    Reply
  61. Angelina

    Angelina from Florida

    Reply
  62. James

    hello from Florida

    Reply
  63. Mavis

    The Proteges are fun!

    Reply
    • Sciencelive

      We love to see what the Proteges have in store for us every week šŸ”¬

      Reply
  64. Nuha

    How does a computer detect a collision that happened far away on the same cable?

    Reply
  65. Ryan

    If you have too many collisions, will the computers break?

    Reply
  66. Bentley

    Hello from Red Bud, Illinois!!

    Reply
  67. Landon

    Hi I’m from New Miexco

    Reply
  68. Cullen

    It is neat how the Ethernet works.

    Reply
  69. Eli

    So people would have to send it at different times so they both can get the data . Then when it collide then the data can’t send to the other person.

    Reply
  70. Alyssa

    Good evening from the Lonestar state

    Reply
  71. Marshall

    Hello from Texas!

    Reply
    • Garrett

      Hello from Illinois

      Reply
  72. Devin

    Who invented the ethernet

    Reply
  73. Anna

    Excited to be here!

    Reply
  74. Logan

    From Tennessee

    Reply
  75. Aiden

    Roger Billings Rocks

    Reply
  76. Kamiera

    hello from texas

    Reply
  77. Wyatt

    Like science live so much

    Reply
  78. Isabella

    Hi from Texas!

    Reply
  79. Emma

    Emma and Jack here from NC!

    Reply
  80. Liz

    Hello from Illionis, how does the ethernet idea came from?

    Reply
  81. Adrianna

    I really appreciated the talk about Ethernet. How Ron Crane joined Zerox and learned about a project with Bob and David. Their idea about connecting computers together so they can share data and printers. Even though they had issues they did figure out a way. They came up with using a vampire tap. Ron also improved the speed and they got up to 100 computers.

    Reply
  82. Bethany

    the lives are the best i love watching them

    Reply
  83. Thomas

    i love the protasheys

    Reply
  84. Taylor

    Taylor from Texas!

    Reply
  85. Trayton

    Hi from Nebraska

    Reply
  86. Griffin

    Is cat 6 faster than cat 5?

    Reply
  87. Noah

    How does Ethernet work?

    Reply
  88. Faith

    Hello from Houston Texas

    Reply
  89. Daemon

    Hello from Texas.

    Reply
  90. Caroline

    ā¤ļø from NC, thank you for sharing

    Reply
  91. Sophia

    Awesome live!

    Reply
  92. Shaniya

    Happy science live. I wish you all great days.

    Reply
  93. Ethan

    hi from IN

    Reply
  94. Isaiah

    Cool science live today!

    Reply
  95. Zachary

    Hello from new jersey

    Reply
  96. Uriah

    Hi from Maryland

    Reply
  97. Bella

    Hello from Louisiana! So happy to see another science live!

    Reply
  98. Jacob

    Thank you guys!

    Reply
  99. Savannah

    Hello everybody!

    Reply
  100. Emeli

    hi from texas

    Reply
  101. Braylon

    Hello from Texas!

    Reply
  102. Kaleb

    I love the problem solving and the sience about the ethernet

    Reply
  103. Chanel

    I love these lives!!

    Reply
  104. River

    Hello from Texas!

    Reply
  105. Autumn

    I’m so happy to be here .

    Reply
  106. Piper

    How can we improve ethernet in the future?

    Reply
  107. Taylor

    Is this pre-recorded?

    Reply
  108. Kolten

    Such amazing insight as always!

    Reply
  109. Caden

    I did not mean to say that I meant to say the machine was SO COOL

    Reply
  110. Justin

    hello from BC

    Reply
  111. Peyton

    Hi, watching from South Dakota!

    Reply
  112. Bryce

    what materials did they need to triple the speed?

    Reply
  113. Abigail

    So grateful for technology and especially the internet!

    Reply
  114. Teague

    So exited for today

    Reply
  115. Sevastian

    hi from las vegas

    Reply
  116. Elise

    Hi Elise from Texas. Ethernet has come a long way. Way to Go NASA!!

    Reply
  117. Amara

    Hello from LA!!!!!!

    Reply
  118. Eagen

    Doesn’t ethernet plug into a router and if it does how?

    Reply
  119. Ryan

    How did the idea of clear plastic around the plug come to be instead of the metal like a normal USB type-A or C?

    Reply
  120. Kayleece

    Hello from Gilman City Missouri!

    Reply
  121. Ethan

    Hello from (TN)

    Reply
  122. Kadence

    I šŸ’œ science live and i like learning about ethernet

    Reply
  123. Garrett

    Hello from Illinois! Excited for Science Live tonight!

    Reply
  124. Hope

    hi from Texas

    Reply
  125. Tristan

    Always great information

    Reply
  126. Aniyah

    This is so cool!

    Reply
  127. London

    Hi from MA!!

    Reply
  128. Deams

    Hi from Nc!

    Reply
  129. Nova

    Thank you for Science Live!

    Reply
  130. Kaylee

    I like this episode!

    Reply
  131. Cailem

    Good evening! Lovely day in Georgia!

    Reply
  132. Eric

    How many computers can they connect together?

    Reply
  133. Francesca

    Hello from North Carolina!

    Reply
  134. Mavet

    Hi from Tx

    Reply
    • Sciencelive

      Hello Mavet! Welcome to Science Live!

      Reply
  135. Ethan

    Hi from Missouri

    Reply
  136. Neriah

    Hi from Illinois! I like this live!

    Reply
  137. Maddox

    I think it is very cool that computers can talk to each other via a cable and know the computers can listen.

    Reply
  138. Cian

    hello from hawaii

    Reply
    • Sciencelive

      Hello Cian, welcome!

      Reply
    • Mia

      Same!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I never foud someone from Hawaii

      Reply
  139. Jarrett

    Awesome topic about Ethernet!

    Reply
  140. Austin

    hello mr.billings

    Reply
  141. Brooke

    Hi From Texas

    Reply
  142. Daila

    Hello from Florida!

    Reply
  143. Bradley

    i like your hair

    Reply
  144. Everett

    Thanks Mr billing for the science live

    Reply
  145. Gage

    So cool

    Reply
  146. Mila

    Hi from New Mexico

    Reply
  147. Lilith

    Hi from Texas!

    Reply
  148. Rio

    I liked learning about the inside of the ethernet cord.

    Reply
  149. Tallen

    Hello from Georgia!

    Reply
  150. Quinton

    This is good video!!!

    Reply
  151. Jackie

    I think it was an amazing idea by Rodger Billings to fund the most impressive invention made by a student, because in the modern world for inventors getting that funding is close to impossible especially for young inventors of today who almost never get a chance to get their name out there.

    Reply
  152. Adam

    Wow this is the basis of the internet, connection

    Reply
  153. Russell

    It was interesting hearing how the Ethernet started.

    Reply
  154. Mackenzie

    Cant wait!

    Reply
  155. Raegan

    HI FROM NORTH CAROLINA šŸ˜€

    Reply
  156. Seth

    Hi from kingsport

    Reply
  157. Jace

    hello from NJ

    Reply
  158. Patrick

    I learned a lot about the ethernet today!

    Reply
  159. Eric

    Amazing live as always love it

    Reply
  160. Myles

    Hello from Texas!

    Reply
  161. Carson

    hello from MS

    Reply
  162. Emilianna

    Hi from texasss <3

    Reply
  163. Austin

    Hello from Indiana
    Which is better ethernet or wifi??

    Reply
  164. Grayson

    always excited to watch a live!!

    Reply
  165. Alyssa

    Hello from Texas

    Reply
  166. Derrick

    Dr. Billings,
    My family started watching science live because I had to leave my school and my mom couldn’t afford the full tuition. At first I wasn’t so excited. But it has become a family event. My big brothers and adults cousins have been coming over to watch it with me and mom and talk about it together. It been really fun and I appreciate you so much for the help.

    Reply
    • Mason

      Hi from texas!

      Reply
    • Ariyen

      i am glad that you are watching science live you have all of our support on your homeschooling

      Reply
    • Sciencelive

      Hello Derrick, thank you for sharing this beautiful story with us! We are so honored, and grateful that we get to be apart of your family time. Keep up the good work and study hard!

      Reply
  167. Abigail

    hi from texas

    Reply
  168. Lyasia

    Hello from Chicago!

    Reply
  169. Laiba

    Hi from Maryland!

    Reply
  170. Aleksi

    I really enjoyed this life science it was very funny and active!

    Reply
  171. Aubrey

    Hello, watching from South Dakota.

    Reply
  172. Mya

    I think its so cool how you make learning so much fun! I never thought learning about the ethernet would be fun!

    Reply
  173. Kinzie

    Hello from Nebraska!

    Reply
  174. Derek

    Hello, From Az

    Reply
  175. Thomas

    Hello from Texas

    Reply

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