I want to connect: HDTV, DishnetworkDVR and Panasonic DVD/VHS recorder. Tried to do it according to a variety of diagrams, last one with 2 HDMI cables, and 1 (from DVR to DVD-R) white, yellow, red cable. Get message: cannot get signal. Help!!

What outputs does the DVR have? What inputs/outputs does the recorder have? What inputs does the TV have?

DVR: HDMI, S video, YPbPr/Compnent
DVD Recorder: HDMI out, Audio/Video (in/out)
TV: HDMI 1, 2, 3, 4, AV 1/S-Video

So the only input on the Recorder is composite video? That's going to make it more difficult.

The best way to do this is to go out from the DVR separately to the TV and the Recorder. Then attach the DVR and recorder into separate inputs on the TV. Finally, you go out from the DVR to the recorder.

When you want to watch something from the Dish or DVR you tune the TV to that input. When you want to watch something from the recorder you tune to that input. Since the input on the recorder is the DVR You can then record off the DVR.

When you say: Finally, you go out from the DVR to the recorder, that's what you say in the beginning, right? WHen you say the best way to do is to go out from the DVR separately to... the Recorder?
My connections are as follows: HDMI 1 from DVR to TV.
HDMI 2 from DVD Recorder to TV
A/V from DVR to DVD Recorder (A/V in)
There is also a cable YPbPr from the DVR to the TV A/V (YPb/Cb Pr/Cr. No idea what that means.

The last connection is called component video.

Those connections should work, but it means the poorest quality recordings from the DVR.