I have just switched from Direct TV to Comcast. I have a dual tuner dvr/hdmi capable box. My TV is a Panasonic Vieta Plasma. I also have a Panasonic Home Theater 5.1. I bought a Magnavox DVD recorder to record shows saved on the dvr. No problem in Direct TV. But now with Comcast I can't get the HDMI cable to deliver a/v to the set, so I've had to use the component video inputs, and while the HDMI cable from the theater delivers a/v to the TV while playing a dvd, it offers no sound without the rca hookups while watching cable. Now the next issue is because I'm using the component inputs, I do not have a place to plug in the rca wires from the Magnavox recorder. I have tried to go over all info in the TV menu to make sure HDMI is "on" and the only thing I can think of is to try and find a "Y" rca wire to split the signal between the cable and the recorder. Let me know how I can resolve this mess. My Direct TV setup was clean and I had great quality, now with Comcast, not so good.

Y adapters on video will degrade the signal. There are devices that will distribute video to multiple outputs. Professional equpment has the ability to "lift" the 75 ohm termination so only one device provides it.

Hdmi for cable boxes seems to be "disabled" or "reserved for future use".

I might come back to this thread.