I have a direct TV hd satellite receiver ,a Samsung 46 inch HDTV LN-T-4665F, a panasonic HDDVD recorder DMR-ES25. And a JVC vcr player .
Currently the wall cable goes to the HD satellite receiver,an HD cable runs from the HD satellite receiver to one of the HD ports on the TV,an HD cable connects the hddvd to the TV. A component video goes from the vcr to the TV. I tried to hook up a component cable from the hd satellite box to the hddvd and then ran a component cable to the TV. This is because the dvd recorder has a hd output, but no HD input only component. When I first got the HD satellite receiver ,I was able to record audio well but the picture appeared to be washed out and fuzzy. Last time I hooked the component cable from the satellite box to the dvd and thence to the TV it did not work. Is it possible to record with the dvd recorder with this system? I do not need HD or great pictures, just ones that are not terrible. I just need to do it so I can record and watch TV shows when I need to go out ,not to record movies .

The only way you will be able to do that is to get a dual input DTV Receiver. I'm not sure that DTV offers such a model. I know that you can purchase a DTV, DVR (Digital Video Recorder) that has a dual input from the satellite. With that unit you can watch one channel and record the other input. BTW, the HD DVR will give you HD video and Dolby 5.1 sound. And you can record on two inputs and at the same time playback a program that is already recorded.

A suggestion only, please consider getting an AVR (Audio, Video Receiver). This would allow you to make your connections to the AVR which would really simplify that basket of snakes you call wiring.