In the US (no scart) for playback you most likely need to connect the VCR/DVD to the TV with AV connections (yellow composite video RCA, red & white audio 2 RCA).
For recording you may be able to use the RF output of the cable box if it has one. You would set the VCR to either channel 3 or 4. You would have to leave the box set to the channel you want to record and set the timer on the VCR. Your cable box may also have AV outputs and those could be connected to the line input on the VCR/DVD.