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A detailed answer would only be possible if your inquiry included more information about the equipment you are using. "Set top box" might apply to a cable converter (including those provided by fiber TV/Internet/digital phone providers), satellite receiver or Over The Air (OTA) digital to analog converter. Varios TVs have different combinations of RF inputs (analog and/or digital - digital may be for cable/QAM or not) and non RF connections like HDMI, component, S-video or composite). If your equipment lacks multiple inputs you might be able to acquire additional options by purchasing a switch box from a video game dealer or other consumer electronics retailer.
Many equipment user manuals include connection diagrams. The manufacturer and/or cable/satellite provider may have downloadable manuals or connection diagrams in the customer support section of their web site.
Usually you will connect output jacks on the signal source (wall outlet, "set top box" or combo VCR/DVD player) to "input" or "in" jacks with the matching label on the equipment that uses the signal ("set top box", VCR/DVD player, or TV). With the objective of helping sort them all out the jacks that use the RCA connectors are usually color coded. A common arrangement is to connect the wall jack to the "set top box" which is connected to the VCR (or combo unit) which is in turn connected to the TV. Some also connect an RF bypass between around the cable converter and VCR to make it possible to watch a different program than the one being recorded (this might only be possible with a subset of the channels you subscribe to)
When source and destination devices have matching jacks there is a order of preference for connections. HDMI is generally considered superior, followed in order by component, S-video and composite. Some cable and satellite providers might not configure the converters to support HDMI despite there being a port on the converter. With all connection types but RF and HDMI you will also need audio connections, optical should be superior to normal Left and Right stereo when available.
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