I only have cable tv. when i connect my magna avox

did you mean how to connect the vcd and vcr player to the tv? if so then its simple. just get the provided rca cables and jack in in the appropriate places as the tv and the vcd/vcr are colour coded to make it easy for anybody to be able to connect.

Try switching your cables on the back of the unit (VCR/DVD).

the cable from the wall is to the cable box in....(do have monitor) cable box out to tv coax in...dvd / vcr & audio outs to tv ins....and tv outs back to dvd vcr audio in....tv is on ch 3 for cable...look for your dvd /vcr or aux ch when want to look a dvd or vcr...now set the dvd to ch 3 settings and cable broadcast...your cable box will determine what you record....note HBO may not record on DVD, but will on VCR tape

U must make sure ur tv channels must work throught ur DVD and VCR unit.Then u can record it out the tv show programs.U must connect the tv air signal or cable to the DVD VCR unit in the antena port.Use another cable connect out on the DVD &VCR unit and in the tv signal input in ur tv antena input.Make sure u in the channel 3 or 4 switch desire back of the DVD&VCR of the back,and the tv correct to ur desire channel switch to 3 or 4 .U
can record tv shows now.

Use the on-board buttons.

You need to tune a chanel on your tv to the vcr signal, using an RF cable (aerial cable between vcr and tv). That is if your tv has an analogue tuner.

wheres the dvd hooked up

if you have a cable that has 1 red 1 yellow and 1 white plug it will usually work plug the white cable into the white input and try alternating the yellow and red in the yellow input

L1 and L2 are just line inputs. This unit does not have a tuner so there are no channels to select.
It requires you to be connected to a TV broadcast via a cable or satellite tuner box... and then would only record what ever channel you were viewing. The DVD is a player only.
It sounds like you should have purchased a DVD Recorder or a DVD/VCR Recorder. The players normally do not have a tuner. A Recorder should have an built-in digital tuner. Some also have the old NTSC tuner and may also have a QAM tuner.

Usually a cable box has a RF (antenna connect) IN (from the external signal) OUT (cable going to the TV_RF in)
Usually one has to place TV_channel on 3 or 6 (my TV ch. 60).
EXTERNAL signal goes in CABLE box RF_in, CABLE box RF_out to the TV (RF_in).
In order to connect DVD/VCR, [IN LINE with cable & TV] just connect the RF_out from CABLE BOX into the RF_in of the DVD/VCR, RF_out of DVD/VCR to the TV RF_in.