Question on my GPS

Hey everyone,
Hope you are having a good day. I am reasonably new to backpacking and resently bought a garmin etrex vista. After playing around with it a little, I took it on a recent overnight to see how it would work. Ok lets say I was really suprised! I couldn't even get a satalite fix!! I assume I am doing something wrong here. I was in a densely wooded are but I should have still gotten something. Shouldn't I?? Perhaps there is a better model to use for my intentions, like the garmin gpsmap62?? I understand it has a different antenna. Can somebody educate me on these things, please.
Thank you,
Steven

It's a fairly capable GPS, if it's working correctly, of course.
I have its slightly newer cousin, the Vista HCX, which supposedly has a more sensitive receiver. I get and keep good sat' locks under heavy canopy, but it can take a while if it's moved a reasonable distance while powered OFF.

As the Vista has been discontinued, is it safe to assume that you got it used?
Were you able to get a sat' fix while at home?
Did you only power ON the Vista after you got into the woods?
Did you find the Satellite screen that shows the sat's from which it is receiving information and, if so, how many showed solid bars?
Did you have maps [preloaded] for the area you were in?

Thanks for your responce. I did get it used and it only has the base map in it right now. I just took it outside and to see what it would do as I can't really remember all the details of the trip. It seemed to take quite a while but eventually after getting good signal from three satalites it did pinpoint my location. After some more time passed I began to recieve signal from a couple of other satalites. From the trip I do remember that I did not turn it on till I was already at the trailhead under heavy cover. It would not get a fix. I assume from your post that may have been a mistake. I was also wondering do these things requiresoftware updateds as far as the firm ware?

Just a note further. I do intend on getting TOPO map software to use but I was just concerned as to if it was working properly. It seems this may be a case of operator error or at least lack of knowledge. LOL!
Thanks for your help

For mine, there has been separate firmware updates for the CPU and the GPS receiver. I had to make an account with Garmin and register my device; hopefully you'll be able to do that, or not need to. Either way, you will need to download the appropriate "Garmin Web Updater" and that will sync your device with your computer, with Garmin Update options.

Next time you're going to the woods, try to have the unit on beforehand and a good signal before you get under the canopy - see what happens.

I think the older ones are less sensitive. My GPSr is a Garmin GPSmap 76CSx. Sitting in my apartment, top floor of my building, I get about 8 satellites of varying strengths, 2-4 pretty strong and the others less so, but my location pops up pretty quickly. Mine also show a picture of where the satellites are. Not sure all Garmins do that, since mine is the only one I've ever used. If I hold it under my desk, almost all of the signals disappear, so I'm thinking heavy tree cover would probably cause the same thing to happen.