The Collision Problem That Crippled Ethernet (And How We Solved It)
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
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About the Roger Billings Scholarship Program »



so cool woah!!!
Great episode, the Ethernet cable is an epic invention, and the circuit Dr. john and his crew created sounds like an awesome protype to use for collision problems.
Loved watching! The Ethernet cable was a great invention that has made an impact on technology. I am glad technology is better and faster than years ago. Thank you for all the great info!
Ethernet nice 🙂
this is so cool!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love to see it !!!!
Technology has improved over the years. The way the Sciencist has improved since Ethernet.
i love playing games on the computer so all the technology that started with the Ethernet makes my day
I’m curious how many of the boards had to be soldered by hand back then.
This was very interesting, I had never heard of ethernet until now.
Amazing episode!
Hi from ms!
Thanks for this!
I liked learning about internet is all around the world
Hello from GA
I am so glad that they found away to make everything much faster then what it is back in the old days.
I love Science live!
Hello from GA
The Ethernet is awesome and this science live is awesome!
loved this science live
whoa…that’s cool.
I recognized that dinosour jump, no internet game sound!!!
hello from Texas
Watching from Texas!
Hello from Texas
Awesome video! I never knew what the ethernet was, outsides of a computer term, and this improved my understanding. Can’t wait for the next one!
I love science live!
This was a great live today!
i love these lives!
I love this week science live because we all learned about ethernet!!👍
Cyber security sounds so cool! I hope you offer it one day!
The internet was probably one of the best inventions ever made!
This was a fun science live!
It’s interesting that it’s showing us each step of how the computer talks to others computers and what happens if something different than just computers talking, for example if the cable of the computer cuts and then it’s off!
This is cool!
The part about the ethernet was very interesting, science live was amazing this week.
Maybe r-51 will come to Maryland
loved it☀️
Hello from Mississippi
when will technology reach the point when it cant progress any further or is it just infinitely going to advance as time goes on.
Very interesting live!!!!
Wow! It’s amazing to see how the internet started from a few computers trying to talk to each other.
Hi from Texas!
Loved learning more about the different types of Ethernets.
hello from montana!
wonderful new episode!
Hello from Florida
Amazing live tonight. Can’t wait for next week.
Hello, my name is Jacob. I especially liked the part about the creation of the ethernet, because of how it worked. Anyway, thank you for the knowledge.
had a great time this episode.
Love this science live!
Hello from Montana, this science l!ve is very great and I enjoy Acellus home school when they make an science l!ve.
I love this live great science live
it’s not easy to understand but it’s amazing stuff
Good first science live.
Hello from Texas also I loved this live.
Good science live tonight!
Hi from indiana
Love watching Science Live every week!
Keep it up science live!
I love science live
loll i thought my computer actually stopped working for a second
Hello from Missouri.
how did Ethernet get popular
i liked learning about ethernet.
Hey from WA!
Hey Science Live!
so cool. I wish it was like every day.
Hi from Alabama !!!!
I thought the rocket launch was really cool I watched it with my sister and my nana.
Hi from Texas!
Ethernet sounds very cool!
1 thing i love about ethernet today is how it feels like you have your very own gateway. Imagine living in a family of 5, your wifi can get very slow sometimes but with ethernet its all fixed. It’s pretty much like stealing all the energy for yourself from 1 gateway while the other family members all share 1.
science is awesome
Hello from Georgia!
these videos are always so entertaining!
The progress they made sounds like they climbed mountains. Very thankful to those who had the vision and put that vision into motion.
Great live!!
Hello from NC
Hi from Alabama!
I really liked science live tonight!
This is very cool, I loved it!
Hi from Arkansas!
Can’t wait to hear the rest next week.
Hello from KY! Loved watching yet another informing and entertaining episode! Thank ya’ll always!
Hello from Georgia!
I love science live
I am looking forward to coming to Acellus world.
science is the best
Amazing video as always!
Hello from NC!
Wow its so cool!!!
hi from mt!!! cant wait to see more of this!!! 😀
Love the video!
I just plugged one of those cables into our wifi today!
It was interesting to see it
This was another great Science Live, thank you so much.
I watched the spaceship launch with my brother and nana. It was so cool.
I liked the idea of the concentrator that prevented collisions by holding them in the hub.Very interesting.
I’m so greatful for this program.
I love Science Live!
Amazing live tonight!
Hello from Mississppi!! Great sciencelive!
I love Acellus
Very cool! Hello from WV!
love science live!!!!
This science live was amazing!
This was an amazing science live today!
Hi! It’s Rylee from Tennessee.
Ethernet is very powerful!
Thanks so much!!
This week’s video was very interesting!
I learned that their is a thing called a vampire tap that would puncture into coax cables.
So cool! Great Science Live tonight!
I really enjoy hearing the stories of Mr. Billings inventions and how he’s worked with other people, like Ron Crane, to create the technology that we use every day.
I love science live
i enjoy how immeresed you all are about educating and informing during these lives!
This live was really good this week!
Hello from Texas!
Wow I can’t believe all the stuff that goes into networking tech
this was very cool to watch!!
Hello from GA the Ethernet is super cool
i love science its so cool an the things yall do!
This science live was really awesome !!
Hello from Texas.
Great episode I learned a lot!
Great science live episode!
I love the ethernet!
Thank you so much!
The history of the Internet will never cease to impress me, thank you for the live! Question, who first discovered that we could use this tech?
Another cool video i learned alot!!!!
I love watching this live it is so interesting.
What are the maximum graphics that a super computer can handle?
Ethernet changed the U.S.A. because of Ron Crane.
Networking is super important in today’s world. Good live today!
Awesome science live! I love science!
Hi from Tennessee
No way, what’s R-51 doing there?
Hello from NC
Hello from Texas!
Afternoon from maryland!!
I learned about how far technology has come
Loved the live can’t wait for next week
Cool video, I liked learning about Ethernet the most!
Maybe R51 will come to Maryland
Happy to be watching
Wow! Ethernets are useful
Watching from Texas, this is so interesting!
I know he wouldn’t want you to mess with his creation, but, wouldn’t he want to expand his creation. So it was better?
Ethernet is great!!!
I like the vampire teeth that go in the cable.🧛🧛🧛
hello from NC
What a fun live!!!
Watching Nasa this week has been awesome! Being alive to see this advancement is exciting.
This Science Live was so cool!
I hope R51 is in the next episode.
the gigabit thing was so cool!!
that’s interesting . you should talk more about Nasa.
The source MAC address is like signing your name.
The ether type tells the person that your sending the package to, is what date is in the packet.
Thanks for the video.
This is awesome!
Hey from Louisiana.
hii from nc!
Great video as usual
Thanks for science live.
Thank you for explaining ethernet. This was my first science live.
Hey hey from TX!
This was really awesome!
I did not know that computers can talk to each other.
the internet is so interesting!
Thank you it was a great video.
This is interesting.
great video! looking forward to the next one.!!
Hello from Ohio!
I loved what I learned today u need to learn more to get good at it and have more fun
Ethernet is the reason why i am watching this live video lag free and securely!
What would happen if one of the cords inside the Enthenet break will all the computer shut down?
Enjoyed the live!!!
I love Science Live!!!