How My Training As An Inventioneer Altered Ethernet

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Everyone said it was impossible. Engineers laughed and called it ‘The Billings Folly’ — as a joke. Then the entire internet adopted it, and now the whole world uses it.

Dr. Roger Billings tells the inside story of how full duplex gigabit Ethernet was invented, rejected at IEEE standards meetings, and eventually became the global standard behind modern internet, streaming video, and AI.

Discover the inventions that made it possible — the concentrator, the equalizer circuit, and the balanced hybrid circuit — and hear what happened when Ron Crane, the father of Ethernet himself, stepped in to defend it.

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 “DrB” 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 “give back” by mentoring students in conjunction with the Roger Billings Scholarship Program.


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

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3,153 Comments

  1. Taelyn

    hi thank you taelyn

    Reply
  2. Gunnar

    tobias’s story was interesting i thought

    Reply
  3. Ryan

    Even if you send a lot or too much, it won’t break?

    Reply
  4. Abel

    Hello from Connecticut

    Reply
  5. Nathanel

    hi from florida

    Reply
  6. Aleah

    hello from alabama !

    Reply
  7. Solomon

    i heard ethernet was the fastest gaming internet

    Reply
  8. Aidyn

    I tear down parts and hard drives from laptops and computers before they are trashed.

    Reply
  9. Kimberlyn

    It is really cool how somebody vented where somebody that cannot hear at all can hear again

    Reply
  10. Ethan

    Thanks for explaining this!

    Reply
  11. William

    I love this

    Reply
  12. Kennedy

    It was very cool to learn about Gigabit Ethernet.

    Reply
  13. Joseph

    Pinching the barbed wire won’t cause you to get shocked? Interesting.

    Reply
  14. Omar

    I like science live it always gets interesting and interesting and interesting and interesting I really like

    Reply
    • Science LIVE

      Hi Omar! We’re so glad you’re enjoying Science Live! Keep up the great work!

      Reply
  15. Seth

    You created how we are watching this right now

    Reply
  16. Elyssa

    Hi from MS!

    Reply
  17. Josiah

    is Ethernet and internet similar

    Reply
  18. Augustus

    that’s so cool

    Reply
  19. Grayson

    Hey from Texas!

    Reply
  20. Brady

    I thought Tobias’ part about the history of Ethernet was really interesting

    Reply
  21. Rex

    What dose buffering mean?

    Reply
  22. Leeland

    Comment. Hello from delaware

    Reply
  23. Rozalia

    The video was amazing thank you

    Reply
  24. Adrianna

    I enjoyed learning about WideBand.

    Reply
  25. Miranda

    Always love the live streams!! Thank you for all you guys do

    Reply
  26. Nehemiah

    Cool!

    Reply
  27. Amberlynn

    Hello from Tennessee 🙂

    Reply
  28. Parker

    Super cool

    Reply
  29. Lovena

    What is a concentrator?

    Reply
  30. Ma`layiah

    I am really enjoying this Science Live. I always wonder how a network of computers was able to send data without crashing. To know that it started with Dr Billings and the FIFO Chip amazes me.

    Reply
  31. Jackson

    YOOOOO thats sooo cool!!!!

    Reply
  32. Charlotte

    Hi from Georgia

    Reply
    • Khaseda

      Hi Charlotte I know you are my favorite classmate in 4th grade 🥰

      Reply
  33. Jackson

    Hello from Las Vegas Nevada!

    Reply
  34. Ian

    It stopped the collisions because they stopped and waited their turn but would be longer to send the message or data? or would it be a shorter time?

    Reply
  35. Aletheia

    ethernet is cool 🙂

    Reply
  36. Talasia

    My favorite day of the week!

    Reply
  37. Macieann

    Hello from Iowa!

    Reply
  38. Eli

    Why can’t you send data gigabyte speed with copper.

    Reply
  39. Kaydan

    It so cool to see how it works

    Reply
  40. Esme

    This is fun to learn about

    Reply
  41. Ava

    It’s very interesting to me to learn more about the Ethernet!

    Reply
  42. Coulten

    done from Texas

    Reply
  43. Gemma

    Dr. Billings was a determined inventioneer – no one could stop him!

    Reply
  44. James

    Hello from Kentucky!!

    Reply
  45. Naila

    It’s super easy to overlook just how powerful WiFi and the internet is, we have so much information at our fingertips

    Reply
  46. Ava

    Hello from Texas

    Reply
  47. Nikolas

    computer parts are cool, how did people even make them?

    Reply
  48. Leobardo

    Science Live is so engaging, fun, and informative!

    Reply
  49. Jabari

    the receiver is very big.

    Reply
  50. Gabriella

    This episode was very entertaining and taught me a lot very happy!

    Reply
  51. Summer

    These are so much fun

    Reply
  52. Angelica

    Love these lives!

    Reply
  53. Aiden

    hello everyone from newjersey!

    Reply
  54. London

    Hello from the Bahamas.

    I’ve never thought about how the internet or ethernet was made, but somehow I am always using the internet. This time I am glad I put the internet to something useful, science live.

    Reply
  55. Lillian

    I love this

    Reply
  56. Taylor

    I love science! Did you guys find r-51

    Reply
  57. Eleanor

    science is my favorite class!

    Reply
    • Omar

      Every single time I watch science life and gets interesting and interesting and interesting I don’t know what to say about science live but it’s the best thing that I’ve ever seen

      Reply
  58. Makenna

    love this one!

    Reply
  59. Trystin

    internet is imperative in todays world, everything is instantaneous

    Reply
  60. Phillip

    When was the company wideband created

    Reply
  61. Harley

    how many messages can go through them before they dont send anymore like how many computers and be sent at once? i have had this question stuck in my head seince the last live.

    Reply
  62. Rawah

    Wow how cool

    Reply
  63. Elliot

    This is so interesting!

    Reply
  64. Aiden

    This is really cool!

    Reply
  65. Kayden

    Thank you I understand it

    Reply
  66. Declan

    Very interesting to learn more about Ethernet!

    Reply
  67. Caleb

    I love roger billings!!!!!!!

    Reply
    • Khaseda

      You and David are are awsome protegés 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

      Reply
  68. Skylar

    Is there a way to make an invention different from Dr.B’s invention but using some of the same things?

    Reply
  69. Lexington

    Wow! Thats amazing, I love science live!

    Reply
  70. Josiah

    I love science

    Reply
  71. Adalynn

    I never realized how much went into this!

    Reply
  72. Ella

    Ethernet is very helpful when you need to send multiple things at once

    Reply
  73. Maura

    Hai from Mississippi!!

    Reply
  74. Joseph

    Hello frome Delaware

    Reply
  75. Samantha

    Hello from California!

    Reply
  76. Gavin

    hello from mobile alabama

    Reply
  77. Natasha

    Which shows did they show it at?

    Reply
  78. Claire

    What would we do without internet? !

    Reply
  79. London

    Watching from Augusta ga.

    Reply
  80. Isabella

    Awesome and interesting information about ethernet

    Reply
  81. Gracie

    cool. I always like the inventioneering sections

    Reply
  82. Elliot

    Hi from Michigan!

    Reply
  83. Dean

    that’s soooooooo cool I’m glad cody’s back

    Reply
  84. Jessica

    What has Dr. Billings not been involved in? Amazing

    Reply
    • Science LIVE

      Hi Jessica! We couldn’t agree more! What an amazing mentor we have!

      Reply
  85. Reginae

    great episode!

    Reply
  86. Scarlett

    being able to always have fast internet is so cool

    Reply
  87. Clarissa

    Hello from Ohio

    Reply
  88. Rowan

    awesome. internet is crazy

    Reply
  89. Francesca

    Actually so cool

    Reply
  90. Aubreigh

    I love this for us

    Reply
  91. Katie

    Hey from AL!

    Reply
  92. Taylor

    Hi from Texas! Enjoying this

    Reply
  93. Jacob

    Hello from Texas!

    Reply
  94. Abigail

    HELLO PROTEGES! LOVE YOU GUYS! y’all make my day brighter every time I see y’all!!!!!!!💞💘💝🤭

    Reply
  95. Natalie

    The way this is explained makes it really easy to understand!

    Reply
  96. Autumn

    Hi from Arizona

    Reply
  97. Christian

    What is the difference between the Ethernet and the internet?

    Reply
  98. Lucas

    Science Quote of the week.

    “I have not failed, i have just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” -Thomas Edison, about the lightbulb.

    Anyways, great show as always.

    This is Lucas T. Checking in from Alabama.

    Reply
  99. Valentina

    Hello from Arizona

    Reply
  100. Gabrielle

    Hello from Rhode Island!!

    Reply
    • Mckenzie

      hello from Tennessee

      Reply
  101. Julie

    hi thank you so much Rodger Billings for making acellus, acellus makes learning fun and I apsalutly LOVE SCIENCE LIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  102. Marina

    Hello from Geogria

    Reply
  103. Josiah

    Watching from Texas

    Reply
  104. Willow

    Greetings from USA.

    Reply
  105. Desean

    cool! i like learning new things

    Reply
  106. Eliza

    hello I love science live and learning new things.

    Reply
  107. Derrick

    thank you for everything you do for us. These weekly meetings help me learn so many new things.

    Reply
  108. Joshua

    hello from Texas

    Reply
  109. Keegan

    I live in Georgia and it’s super hot. Also I love WiFi and the internet so thanks

    Reply
  110. Annabelle

    Hello Dr billings! I really like this episode

    Reply
  111. Emma

    What is the max amount of gigabits?

    Reply
  112. Paul

    How would the computer detect a collision?

    Reply
  113. Ava

    This is epic!

    Reply
  114. Jayden

    how long have you been running Science Live, and has Pajet been a part of it since the beginning?

    Reply
  115. Harlan

    I love science live.

    Reply
  116. Sophia

    Did he create the gigabit?

    Reply
  117. Alexander

    What’s in an ethernet cable?

    Reply
  118. Gerratt

    hi from texas

    Reply
  119. Lucy

    hi from NJ. tonights science live is so cool

    Reply
  120. Emmanuel

    Cars in traffic is a good analogy.

    Reply
  121. Miguel

    Hello from Maryland! Loving it so far!

    Reply
  122. Alexandra

    How would someone who hasn’t had any prior knowledge start the process to understand the way the ethernet works / operates?

    Reply
  123. Lillian

    Hi from Tennessee <3

    Reply
  124. Kelby

    Hello from North Carolina! Its so cool hearing about how working through the problems even when they get hard, and how well it pays off! The rainbow at the end of a storm!

    Reply
  125. Morgan

    hi from tennessee

    Reply
  126. Zariyana

    Hello, It’s Zariyana , I’m watching from Chicago.

    Reply
  127. Emily

    Hello from Arizona

    Reply
  128. Vivian

    I loved tonight’s live!

    Reply
  129. Elijah

    Dr. Billings is so smart! He’s invented so much.

    Reply
  130. Joseph

    I am not doubting it’s hard but it would be cool if I invented something, I don’t know what.

    Reply
  131. Harley

    what is a invetour?

    Reply
  132. James

    what else is Ethernet also used for beside streaming videos

    Reply
  133. Noura

    Science Live is so engaging, fun, and informative!

    Reply
  134. Disa

    This ethernet series is interesting!!

    Reply
  135. Amelia

    I thought it was mega bites not bits?

    Reply
  136. Jayla

    What does FSD stand for?

    Reply
  137. Jerry

    I like science live

    Reply
  138. Russell

    what is a MB?

    Reply
  139. Leslie

    Dr.B should cameo in a protege video.

    Reply
  140. Joseph

    hi from nc

    Reply
  141. Allee

    What inspired you to be become a inventor?

    Reply
  142. Chanel

    Wish I had to watch this everyday!

    Reply
  143. Connor

    hi from tn

    Reply
  144. Bethany

    How do you handle/manage to make inventions while dealing with criticisms?

    Reply
  145. Charles

    I think we’re all spoiled with how easy it is to access uninterruptedhigh speed Internet

    Reply
  146. Ayden

    Hello from Alabama. Internet is very important in our home. We stream almost everything so its so cool to see how internet can improve through eternity connecting.

    Reply
  147. Lainey

    hello from tn!

    Reply
  148. Anna

    The networking system is so interesting!!

    Reply
  149. Naiah

    Hello from New York!!

    Reply
  150. Jannelyn

    Can they invent a hear machine to the person who can’t hear

    Can the chip go 10x faster because if you put it like 5x slower it’s not going to work

    I like when they teach you in the 17,18,19

    Ms

    Reply
  151. Adelyn

    How long does it take to create a balance circuit?

    Reply
  152. Michael

    How does it work

    Reply
  153. Jenica

    How did someone come up with the idea for Ethernet?

    Reply
  154. Lianna

    I never knew the Ethernet even existed until now

    Reply
  155. Alexis

    Wouldnt be able to live without WiFi. THANKS

    Reply
  156. Jarrett

    I did not realize the Ethernet started with Dr. Billings

    Reply
  157. Eduardo

    what was the first circuit you made

    Reply
  158. Samantha

    hi from ct

    Reply
  159. Aubrey

    nice video I love how they give so much detail

    Reply
  160. Valentina

    hello from new york

    Reply
  161. Trent

    This is great!

    Reply
  162. Jahmaari

    I can’t wait to see new inventions.

    Reply
  163. Ashley

    HIII FROM CHICAGO!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  164. Allie

    Ready to learn!

    Reply
  165. Charlotte

    Hi ffrom Iowa!

    Reply
  166. Jonas

    so then how did you fix this problem

    Reply
  167. Mia

    I enjoy hearing from Dr, Billing.

    Reply
  168. Panchen

    Ethernet is very interesting and I am happy to learn more about it.

    Reply
  169. Nathan

    i like this type of stuff

    Reply
  170. Joseph

    Hello from NY! Amazing 🙂

    Reply
  171. Carmen

    Why did they stop using ethernet?? I thought it was interesting.

    Reply
  172. Bradyn

    hello from south carolina

    Reply
  173. William

    Ethernet is so cool.

    Reply
  174. Shyla

    hello from UAS

    Reply
  175. Aiden

    This was a great live, I loved it very much thank you for telling us this interesting stuff today.

    Reply

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