I have received and or placed an order for the following components and would like to hear expert advice on how precisely to connect them to gain maximum usage functionality/versatility from each component and the entire system via HDMI connections:

HD Cable Box - Motorola DCT3412 All Digital Dual Tuner DVR High-Definition Set-Top - 1 HDMI Output

HDTV - Samsung LN-T4665F 1080p HDTV - 3 HDMI Inputs (2 Rear, 1 Side)

A/V Receiver – Onkyo TX-SR605 7.1-Channel A/V Receiver – 2 HDMI Inputs & 1 HDMI Output

DVD Player – Oppo DV-981HD Universal DVD Player with HDMI, 1080p Un-Converting, DivX & SACD – 1 HDMI Output

Speakers – 7.1-Channel Home Theater Speakers

I also want to connect my PC so I can display the PC screen on the HDTV screen.

I don’t fully understand what connections other than the HDMIs I will need to have a fully functional and versatile Home Theater System using these components. All advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Ideally you can connect the cable box and DVD player to the Onkyo receiver with HDMI then use HDMI to go to the TV. HDMI carries audio and video so there would be no need for other cables.

You may run into issues using the cable STB with the receiver though, there are some known issues with certain cable STB's not working with HDMI switching receivers. If you run into that issue, you'll need to go straight HDMI from the cable STB to the TV and run an optical or coax audio cable from the STB to the AV receiver.

Not sure what option you can use for the PC, don't know what output options you have available on your PC.

If you still need to purchase cables, check out monoprice.com, there is no need to spend a small fortune on HDMI cables, they are digital, as long as the data gets from one end to the other, the PQ will always be the same.

I really appreciate your help. I'm attempting to educate myself by reading everything I can, but it's great to hear from someone who can cut through all the crap and save me time and frustration headaches. The Cable Box Comcast uses is the Motorola DCT3412, and right now I'm guessing, if I can, I'll need to connect my computer with it's current components to the receiver via DVI/HDMI cable and Stereo 1/RCA 2 Y cable. Would you happen to know where I can go to learn about the cable box HMDI switching problems you referred to? Again, thank you very much for your help and advice.

Would you happen to know where I can go to learn about the cable box HMDI switching problems you referred to?
Issues with this box and the 6412 version are mainly a function of the firmware version that's installed. Back around v. 12.XX (circa 6/2006), there were serious HDMI handshaking issues. My 6412 currently has v. 16.35 and I've seen no HDMI handshaking issues for many months. Do a search here and on Wiki for DCT6412 or DCT3412 and you should turn up the history.

Issues with this box and the 6412 version are mainly a function of the firmware version that's installed. Back around v. 12.XX (circa 6/2006), there were serious HDMI handshaking issues. My 6412 currently has v. 16.35 and I've seen no HDMI handshaking issues for many months. Do a search here and on Wiki for DCT6412 or DCT3412 and you should turn up the history.

This issue is different then the 12.XX firmware problem that shut down DVI/HDMI outputs on the STBs. Certain STB's just can't talk to an HDMI repeater which is that the AV receiver is acting as.

It's been discussed here in the past, some searching should turn up info on it.

I have been contacting Samsung for about a month on this Samsung LN-T4665F HDMI handshaking issue. Anyone have any ideas or insight for a resolution? Everytime I play a DVD in my samsung bluray player when I hook it up via HDMI I get flashing on the screen. Same goes for my Direct TV box. Should I just return it and go with the sony XBR?