Okay, I had this with maybe the dvd player and the vcr but now I'm stuck and cannot find manual for the dvd recorder. I have too many wires and too many electronics
Result I would like, in the ideal world, is to have my dvd recorder to have the ability to record old VHS and DVR and other DVDs.

I currently have it with cable to DVR -> VCR -> DVD recorder -> TV, DVD player yellow/red/with -> DVD recorder. The DVD recorder has coaxial the DVD player does not.
Problem 1: the VCR does show the DVR channels when DVR is on but the no channels when the DVR is off.
Problem 2: DVD recorder not showing on TV.

Can I have the best of all worlds? I do have the box for yellow/red/white (video/audio) but I thought I no longer needed it because the DVD recorder has coaxial.

I did look for this problem but they didn't have as many devices and I believe I have tried the solutions mentioned there to no avail.

All devices are "ch 3"

Need to know the types of inputs and outputs on each. TV has Multiple inputs?
Look through:

http://www.monstercable.com/connection/home_theater_connection_guide.asp

Select connection guide and connection types. Very helpful.

Thanks! WOW, I thought I was overwhelmed before, now I really am.
Okay, I have standard TV (no HD yet, I'll probably be back after taxes with that issue).
I have been connecting all with coax but the DVD recorder AND the DVD player have Composite Video (yellow) and analog audio (red and white).
Hey, I just realized-wonder, is the reason I don't have picture on VCR when no DVR because of the digital conversion? AGAIN Wow I didn't think the conversion would have impact because I had cable. Maybe, I'm ahead of myself.
Does this help or do I need more info still?

Leave the DVD player out of the equation for a minute.
Hook the VCR to the TV (coax connections). On some VCRs you have to push the TV/VCR button to have the VCR output show on the TV (TV on CH 3).
Now, hook the DVDR to the VCR (DVDR out RCA to VCR in). You will also need a coax ant conn to DVDR if you want to record TV on DVDR. To receive DVDR signal on TV, you will have to select an input channel (back for present hookup but front is also an option) on the VCR and you may have to push TV/VCR button as stated above.
Now you need RCA cable from VCR out to DVDR in, in order to be able to tape VCR to DVDR.
Lastly, you can connect an RCA cable from DVD Player out to DVDR in (front connection most likely).
None of this will work without the correct inputs on each machine (Source of signal for each is most critical plus TV/VCR switch as necessary). It gets frustrating but you have to think it through for each type operation, each time you set up a task. Also, some TV's have a selection on the remote to receive input through the RCA jack connections.