I just bought a new LCD TV with an inbuilt HD digital tuner. I can't afford a DVD recorder with an inbuilt digital tuner so I plan to use it with my old DVD recorder.

I have a question regarding the aerial input, do I plug in the aerial cable directly to the TV? If so, how will the DVD recorder get reception to record programmes?

Thank you.

If you can receive analogue TV channels, I would recommend connecthing the aerial cable to your DVD recorder and then from the recorder to your TV. Even though the DVD recorder will be in capable of tuning in the digital TV channels, the advantage of doing this will be that you can tune in the existing analogue TV channels to record from. The TV will still be able to tune in the digital TV channels, even if the aerial cable is looped through the DVD recorder.

To record from Digital, either your TV will need to feature an output to supply the tuned in Digital TV channel or you will need a separate digital TV tuner box. While many TVs with built-in digital tuners can feed out the digital TV content, unfortunately most of these will only feed the current tuned in channel and while the TV is switched on, thus making it impossible to set up timed recordings without actually leaving your TV switched on and tuned to the channel you intend recording from. Your TV manual should mention the video outputs, assuming it supports this. Note that if you pick up channels in high definition, you will unlikely be able to record from these, regardless of whether the TV can output these.

Alternatively, if you have a separate digital TV tuner box or know someone who no longer uses theirs (such as if they got a TV with integrated digital reception), I would recommend using this to record digital TV from. The aerial needs to be looped through it and its AV output needs to be connected to your DVD recorder's AV input.

Not sure where you live but I bet that you could probably pick up a cheap digital STB and just link it to you DVD recorder. Over here, in Australia, I can pick up a STB with S-Video and Coax digital audio-out for $59, that's $44.50 US.
With this set-up you effectively create a "twin tuner setup" where you can record one digital channel whilst watching another. The S-Video connection will give you pretty-good picture quality and this should keep you happy for a very low extra outlay.