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
Read more about DrB »
About the Roger Billings Scholarship Program »
We learned a lot this science live!!
I really appreciate all the diagrams and examples used to help explain ethernet. It is really helpful, especially to a visual learner.
artemis 2 is so cool!
Very entertaining! Cant wait for next week’s!
The Ethernet is so cool!
Hello from Washington
hi i love your videos from California.
I like the fact that they always have some fun but interesting facts. I love Acellus!!
Hello, from Tennessee!!!!1
this science live was amazing ethernet cords are essential to internet
Wow another great science live!
The knowledge that the Astronaut is using to go too the moon is remarkable.
Hello, I’m from Texas and I love science life I’m so excited for what they’re gonna be teaching us today
loved the show to night!!!
I love science live
Mr. Billings seems like a very interesting person and has had a lot of accomplishments, it is pretty cool!
Thanks for putting the lives on YouTube so we can watch it later if we miss it
I would like to learn more about the internet.
I love these science lives!
When was the project started?
Very interesting this week.
Learning about the internet was very interesting! This is my favorite live yet.
I wanna know how long does it take to fix an Ethernet collisions? Loved live today!
Hello from Georgia
Science live is so fun!!
this live was awesome im gonna rewatch atemis2 launch to look at everying great live
Love your videos
I never understood how Ethernet worked, Thanks!
My first time here!
I love acellus.
This was probably my favorite live yet! I can’t wait for next week’s!
10000000/10
I love R51
I just do not get how someone comes up with things like this
Acellus is a lot better then being in school
I love these videos. They’re awesome.
Love the prototype for collision problems, hopefully in the future it helps avoid more problems!
Extraordinary live session! I learned so much!
This is so incredible it makes me love to learn!
Roger Billings is the coolest
heyy from SC
The Ethernet cable really interested me and the Network technology was very cool.
Aiden from Nevada! Interesting video!
Thank You Acellus, as always I love that I learn new exciting things every SCIENCE LIVE!!!
Comment hello from Illinois
Very thankful for this program
this is so cool!! I love hearing his stories !!
I have never heard of Ethernet until now
I love this episode. It was very interesting and I learned so much!!
Another week of great science
Good evening from Texas
oops sorry im late!!! non the less im still very excited
Thank you for a little bit of r51
Hi fromFlorida
hi from Nevada!!!!!!
Hello everyone from Mississippi
I love to watch this thank you mr billings!!
Hii from Virginia!
How many computers can talk to each other at the same time?
This science live really sparked my interest, loved it!
I love these videos every week!
I love science live! This lesson was so fun. Thank you for teaching me all this fun stuff.
1the baseball thing was funny
Love this one!!
this video was very informational thank you
i love drb
This episode was so good!!
That is so different to use the phone to send an email.
Really cool. So glad I watched this.
Science live is awesome.
I love this live!!! It’s made me love science even more !
i really love science live it is literly the best the ever made 10 out of 10 would recemend
I love Acellus!!
love this live! so much informational news.
That was a very entertaining episode. I look forward to hearing more about your time spent with Ron crane in the next one and I will keep my eye out for R-51.
How long does it take to solder all the parts?
this was amazing live the ethernet is amazing
Congratulations on figuring out a way to make Ethernet work and more than double its speed!
I enjoyed learning about Ethernet.
I really hope i can go to the science fair next year! :]
This is super cool!
Great, wow, just amazing!
Great Episode! Loved learning about Ethernet and the changes it made for the technology world! Can’t wait till next time!
Back again for another video!
this is why more people need to learn about science. Who know what will happen next .!
This was so fun to watch! he looks like a great man.
first science live. happy to be here
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.
Fun and interesting video
Hello, from MT. excited to watch this live
I really enjoyed this live a lot! I like hearing Mr. Billings stories
I really liked this live it was interesting
wow todays live was so cool!!!
I am almost done with my freshman year and I can say Acellus is the best!!!
Very cool project and info about what debugging is.
Loved this live !!! From mississippi.
This live was pretty rich with info in my opinion, keep it up!
The live made me understand how after time Ethernet was developed and how we use it in today’s world. I really love this live
Prodigies and it is cool that we can watch it on YouTube. Great idea.👍👍
Oh I love to be part of the NASA program someday.
Love hearing all those stories!
Cool Science Live, keep it up!!
It is crazy us much human beings take for granted
This was my favorite episode! thank you for teaching me about the ethernet
Thank you for the interesting live!
loved the video so much !
hiii from tenneessee
Great science live
I always love science live!!
I liked this science live!
I’m glad that you all are teaching us more about things like ethernet!
I liked learning about the ethernet for our internet.
That’s so interesting that you had to use physical phones to call the person you wanted to email and then had to put your phones on a modem at the same time in order to send the device. How cool!
An idea for Mr. Billings invention. How about headlights that auto turn on and off the bright lights when driving so people don’t accidentally blind each other when driving at night? We already have headlights that work automatically, what if we had the same concept but for head lights that work for bright lights only?? I think it would help prevent so many collisions.
it was interesting to hear about how you could come up with an invention and talk about it, but then somebody else would maybe take your idea. But to not be upset or give up, but just to keep on going and make an even better version.
hi from tx
Learning about the Ethernet was really interesting
What happens when the FIFO gets full?
So cool to think about how much people have developed technology!
This was super interesting!! these lives are truly fascinating
Loved the Live! Internet was being buggy though.
favorite part of my week!
how did the etrernet become the internet
The Artemis 2 launch was so cool!
Comment very informative, as always
science live always has interesting facts
Hello from north carolina
Great Video as always!
That was a awesome live
Very interesting Science Live! I learned a lot about the ethernet.
hello from MO!!
This Science live was great!
I loved watching today live
Wow very cool very interesting science live today, I cant wait for next week!
The Ethernet cable is such an interesting invention!
I can’t wait to watch science Live!
Thanks Dr B
Good episode. Have been watching Artemis.
This was a very interesting episode.
love watching every wednesday
I love science live!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for another interesting Science Live.
Thank you for teaching me the history of ethernet! Columbia SC
We watched the artimis launch on the tv:)
I hope r51 has fun while he’s on the wing.
This science live was so cool
I love watching Science Live. What does Roger Billings have in store?
Hi, Brody from Minden, NV. I can’t believe I’m almost done with 6th grade
how much money is it cost to go to the moon?
I love this science liveee!!
i love being a part of acellus its so fun
hello from Arkansas
I look forward to science live every single week!
I love this video it was so cool
Hi from Michigan!!!
I love science even more when I watch these videos!
It’s nice to know that there are still tons of cool things that are being done with science!
I enjoyed this video
Can you do a science live featuring thylacines?
This was such a good episode!
so interesting I loved this science live! Can’t wait for the next one
Wow this was all super cool!
Hi from Kentucky!
Very interesting and nice video! Can’t wait for the next one.
I too enjoy the science of this live.
Wow I didn’t know that!
How has the ethernet of today affected us? More specifically, how has our current ethernet benefited us? For example, is it because of its flexibility with different devices? If so, is this a major reason why we are more easily able to communicate with each other?
the artemis 2 launch was crazy i was really exited when it went to space. i LOVE space.
10/10
Loved it can’t wait for more.
Live today was so cool!
Love the lives so much
This is so interesting! I love watching these science lives!!
Loved this episode!!
Hello from Georgia!
I look forward to science lives!