abstract:VideoCipher is a brand name of analog scrambling and de-scrambling equipment for cable and satellite television invented primarily to keep consumer Television receive-only (TVRO) satellite equipment from receiving TV programing except on a subscription basis.The Museum of Broadcast Communications, SCRAMBLED SIGNALS It was invented in 1983 by Linkabit Corporation, which was bought out by M/A-COM in 1985 and operated as M/A-COM Linkabit.