Originally Posted by RSawdey

Part of your problem is that your bought the wrong shape TV. HDTV is widescreen. 4:3 sets semicompatible with HD give poor quality and are a PITA to use. If you've got the option to exchange it for a widescreen, it's highly recommended.

All digital signals will be shown letterboxed by your TV. When a digital channel sends a pillarboxed 4:3 image, you see a tiny centered image. Your image height keeps changing because you're switching between HD and SD channels. On a widescreen, the change is between narrow and widescreen, both at full screen height.

You MUST use Component or HDMI/DVI for HD signals, old analog SVideo or Composite or RF over coax are limited to analog SDTV. To record using a composite or SVideo cable from the cablebox to your VCR, you'll need to change the input to be recorded in the VCR menu. If possible you should not use RF over Coax output from the VCR, but a video connection like SVideo or Composite for better quality. You'll also need an audio connection to go with the video. The analog video on the cable STB is a downconverted 480i version of the current channel thats on the HD Component out.

Your DVD player should also be connected using Component cables, so it can output progressive scan 480p. (assuming it's capable)

I'd say you need to read your DVR manual... give us make & model & we can probably point you to an online manual... or there may be a 'how to use the DVR' channel on your cable.