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.
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What all components go into building that board?
Can’t wait for next weeks video
I enjoyed learning about ethernet!
That was a great explanation of what the ethernet is. I actually understand it finally.
New program is amazing and would help my family in so many ways. I love that and I am excited to be here.
I like watching them solve problems!
HOW DO YOU BLOW MY MIND EVERY SINGLE TIME?!
the solution of a collision problem is very interesting
To think of all of the tech and inventions that were made for me to just type a single Google message is incredible!
awesome presentation goat
watching from Texas! love these science lives!!
Great Science Live!
Can we name the comet lucky.
I loved this live might be my favorite so far! Can’t wait for the next one!!
How long did the vampire tap take?
I’m glad I’ve got internet vs Ethernet.
It was fun learning about the Ethernet!
I’m curious, when and why was toilet paper invented?
It’s really interesting on the history of Ethernet, this is my favorite video so far!
Watching from Texas!
My family and I watched Artimis II take off and then we also got to watch the landing. It was very cool.
I think it’s so cool how computer science has advanced!! I also thought Cat 5 cables were really cool!!
I love learning about the ethernet. Before this video I didn’t know what the internet was.
These are all very interesting videos and I hope to see more of them.
R51 is so comical
Hello from Halifax, Nova Scotia! I love Science LIVE!!
How did you figure out how to solve the collision problem?
I love R.51 its my favorite part of science live
My dad usues an Ethernet cable for his computer for work. Thanks for teaching this subject.
the ethernet is so cool
Ron Crane was a true genius!
Great live, cant wait for the next one.
Loved this one
I love watching science live!
isacc newtons invintions were very intresting.
The launching of Artemis 2 was so cool! I loved the picture where you could see the earth and the moon in the same picture.
I love Science Live
Ethernet is cool!
It’s so cool that astronauts are going to the moon!
This was by far one of my favorite episodes
It was really cool learning how Ethernet came about.
Great live super interesting about the Ethernet! Can’t wait for the next live.
Can’t wait for the next one!
i love this program
Science lives are so fun
This weeks video was amazing!!
I liked learning about the Ethernet!
I took a lot away from this Science Live episode, and if I had to pick one out of all the other fascinating subjects speakers Roger Billings and Dr. Tobias spoke about, it would be learning that early Ethernet was so collision-prone that if, hypothetically speaking, a group of people were to be talking over each other on one phone line, only one of them could be understood. Its so mind boggling!
Love this one!! so excited for the next!! Loved learning no and hearing about Ethernet!
Mr. Billing’s stories are very interesting!! I love Science Live.
There are a lot of brilliant inventions and minds in our world.
I enjoyed the part about learning about the ethernet and the collisions with computers
space is very cool
This was a really cool episode!
It’s really amazing how far ethernet has come with its insane Wi-Fi speeds we have today compared to back then. Using barbed wire is also crazy!
It is just so wild how everything is connected and worked together to make the amazing ethernet!
That’s so cool!
It is so good
thank you for the amazing video
Every science live is always a joy to watch!
R 51 is plotting his escape trust
I’ve always wondered how ethernet worked especially how much it boosts the Wi-Fi speeds on computers so this was definitely interesting for me. Going as far as to use barbed wire is also crazy.
Why haven’t we reviewed past inventions sooner if they still have a chance to benefit society?
How was ethernet made?
That’s really cool how far we’ve come!
What was the time limit for when there was a collision, and they had to wait a random time to see the message?
So many interesting things to learn from this science live!
I love Acellus and what there trying to do for families that are struggling.
the ethernet is interesting
The R-51 clip was hilarious!
I love science lives!!!!
The new scholarship program loos exciting
What there sending more people to land on the moon
I never knew that packets were that simple, I always thought that they were way too complicated for me to understand. Super cool!
That is really great news for families like mine that have all my brothers enrolled here. That would really help so much. Thank you so much for always thinking of ways to help us and our parents.
The barbbed wire was so cool!
I love science live!
As always another fire episode from science live!
This has NOTHING to do with this episode but how’s Jeffry? 🐍🐍🐍?
Great episode! The proteges were really good.
Love this video!
It’s crazy to think about how technology developed over time. It’s interesting to realize that the world started off no existing technology, and all of a sudden we have things like phones, ipad, and personal computers. Over time we improved from having no technology to advanced technology that we use in our daily lives!
Thank you for doing Science Live!
I love science live!
These are great!
the ethernet was so intriguing, i was genuinely starstruck lol
I love you are 51. You are so good and you never waste time. Thank you.
I didn’t know Internet was just a road with collisions and everything.
Cool to see! Ready for the next one.
I knew nothing about the ethernet until now!
Thank you for this video!
Great Science Live!
It’s crazy to think about how technology developed over time. It’s interesting to realize that the world started off with no existing technology, and all of a sudden we have things like phones, ipad, and personal computers. Over time we improved from having no technology to advanced technology that we use in our daily lives!
Ethernet has advanced so much from just what I know and have learned here and with what my mom has told me from since she was a kid.
I wonder how they lived without internet in the back then.
Wonderful live! I learned more than I expected
One of my fav lives
Very intriguing live! Cant wait for the next!
Thank you for always having interesting videos.
awesome and educational video!
I loved learning about scienece and a little bit about NASA would love to learn more about it! and also I found it really interest all the new thing that we can learn about Ethernet.
I watched with my siblings earlier. Just posting to get credit. I do like the R-51 guy. He’s cool and makes me laugh.
I cant wait to invent something !
I’m not really that interested in how computers work. But you made it more interesting for me. Thank you
Thanks for the great info.
thats awesome that Dr Billings solved the Ethernet problem
Can’t wait for next week!
I LOVE LEARNING FROM YOU AND THE PROSHGES AND ON SCIENCE LIVE. I LOVE LEARNING ABOUT THE ETHERNET
I love science live!
I hope that in 2028 the astronauts land safely on the moon!
Does anybody read these?????? Comment if you do!!
SCIENCE LIVE IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!
its so cool that people make thing that help people.
Comment learning about the Ethernet was super fun, this science live was good
very cool thank you!
Science live is good
you explain this so well
hope the arduinos hit the gold store!
I liked learning about the Ethernet, very interesting. I enjoyed the whole program.
science live is the best
It is great to hear how much you guys care about the community and want to give everyone the chance to be able to use Acellus.
Thanks for keeping us up to date with the FIFO system. I didn’t know much about Wideband’s technology or about collision elimination before and am always eager to educate myself!
The ethernet stuff was cool, I didn’t really know much about it before!
Who came up with Ethernet and how was it discovered
hi from texas
Tuning in from Missouri, about an hour from the Acellus headquarters!!!!!!!
Tuning in from Colorado
I really enjoyed learning about the Ethernet!! Love Science Live and always learning something new!!
Heloo from texas!
I love watching these videos!
Wow Acellus is so cool.
I enjoyed this video
This is so cool!
I love science live
My mom taught me FIFO for food in the refrigerator and pantry.
science is so cool
Another awesome episode! I really enjoy Science Live!
Awesome Live video!
Why did Ron Crane decide to go to Xerox?
Favorite video so far!
It was so interesting learning about the Collision problem.
I love Wednesdays because of Science Live
I love it!!!!
I love science live and I’m a cowboy
i have always thought about how the Ethernet travels
I just started Acellus and I love it!
I really like science live.
Loved the Video!
I really wanna learn more about the Ethernet, I’ve always had one plugged into my computer but I never knew really what it was. Im extremely happy to learn more about it!
the internet is so crazy!
I enjoyed learning about the Ethernet!
Thank you for your wonderful science live presentations, it actually pretty entertaining not going to lie 🙂
I really love the Science Live today !!
I love science live
These are always so interesting!
Wow I really enjoyed this live!
thanks for this week’s video
Who created wifi and internet?
It was fun learning about Ethernet. I love watching Science LIVE.
These videos are my favorite to watch!
science live was great
the “ether net” is very interesting
Thank you for the amazing video
We need mister Todd!
My mom has told me about the dial up internet they used to have. All the talk about ethernet made me think about it.
its always so cool to watch this
I like hearing about the different inventions.
I loved learning this week! Can’t wait till the next one!
This was neat to learn about.
R-51 is always funny.
4th science live, I love these!
Cant wait to join tonight.
I love science
It was very interesting learning about the Coaxial Cable and how they fixed the problem with collision problem.
i love learning about this
Its amazing how the Ethernet Packet works and its great how they explained it. How did people work around those collisions especially when there was hundred of computers? Its great how technology has improved.