[Tinman & HD know-it-alls] Help me with my HDTV hook up

I know there are a million HDTV threads, including my own, but I figured this was specific enough to warrant its own thread.

So I got my mom's HDTV hooked up through Comcast. The TV itself is a Sony Wega and is about 7 years old. According to the back of the TV and its literature, the TV is capable of 480i, 480p, and 1080i via component cables. No option for 720 at all (I think), which is why I wasn't surprised when the TV picture said 480i on the HD channels. I wasn't surprised because I thought the signals were only broadcast in 720, which this TV apparently won't do. The picture is....all right. Nothing grand at 480i.

So I'm at a friends house last night, and his TV said that what I was watching 1080i resolution. Granted, he has a really nice, really new Samsung, but mom's TV says 1080i, so....shouldn't I be able to watch HDTV in 1080i?

There is a button on the remote that says "DRC Mode" that, when pressed, says "progressive" or "interlaced" on the screen. I can't figure out what the hell this does, because the screen doesn't change. There doesn't appear to be anything useful on the on-screen TV menu. The manuals for the TV and the cable box aren't very helpful, and neither is teh internets.

So what gives? I've got it all hooked up via component cables and, near as I can tell, everything is as it should be.

Help. Me. Please.

 

Scientific Atlanta. I suppose it makes a difference, otherwise you wouldn't have asked....what's the deal?

 

Okay, I did that and....nothing happened. Well, it allowed for 480p whereas before I was only getting 480i, so I guess that's an improvement, but I can't get 1080i at all. I can see 1080i and select it, but the channels only come in in 480p.

This is frustrating.

 

What I mean is in the setup mode for the output from the cable box, it shows the various resolutions and says something to the effect of "This screen is 1080i. If you can see it and want to save it, press the 'select' button."

And yes, I'm sure I'm going to the right channels.

Yeah, I've got all that. Red/blue/green to red/blue/green, red and white audio cables, etc. I promise you and everyone else that, as far as the cables go, this is hooked up correctly.

They are; this TV doesn't support HDMI.

I was talking to a friend of mine who knows a ton about this stuff. I was drunk, so I don't remember the conversation too well, but he basically said Sony made claims regarding some of their older HD TVs that they couldn't back up. In other words, just because the TV says it can do 1080i, it really can't. Something to that effect. Damn the demon alcohol!

 

Sony FD Trinitron Wega
Model Number: KV-32HS20

 

Thanks man, but I have the manual. I give, for now.

Stupid TV.