Can a DVD VCR recorder without a tuner still record tv shows?

I believe that you can use your cable turner or the TV turner to record TV Shows. It all in the setup for RCA style inputs into the DVD/VCR from outputs from the cable box or TV if they are available. You can only record TV shows that are playing on the TV/Cable Box and if they do not have outputs setting up the DVD/VCR to record is not possible. The single channel use prevents you from watching one show and recording another on that TV. This is what I was doing before I got the DVR on my cable box and now I fast forward past all the commercials.