"In order to get surround sound from your cable hookup, you need to run either a digital coaxial cable, or digital optical cable from the digital coaxial output or digital optical output of your cable box to the appropriate input of your receiver. The area, in you diagram, labeled #8 is your 3 optical inputs, while #10 is your 2 coaxial inputs. Either connection will suffice."

I just have a regular coaxial, I can't use that? My DVD player is also a VCR, if I want Surround I can always watch TV thru my VCR anyway.

"By the way, in order to get surround sound from your DVD player you'll need to run a digital cable from from your DVD to one of the digital inputs on your receiver, and assign that input, as well."

huh? I need to buy another thing?

"The "down" side to running your video from your cable box to the receiver, then to the TV is, whenever you want to watch TV, you MUST turn on your receiver."

Is that really a down side? I'd need the receiver to use my good speakers...the tv speakers are terrible.