How to rule in or rule out notebook wireless hardware problems

Read up on overlapping channel issues.

The gateway not being available could be a router configuration issue, a wireless connection configuration issue, signal interference or overlap, one or all of which could cause connection drops.

You seem to lack a basic understanding of how wireless networking works.

You have been given several ways to troubleshoot the problem (analyzer, logs, check config settings, etc.)

I'm not sure what else you need that hasn't already been mentioned.

If you have another network card that you know is good, swap it out and see if the issue changes.

Otherwise, purchase a USB NIC and see if that changes. If it doesn't, return it.

There is no multimeter to plug in to see if the NIC is good.

I'm out.

There are multiple notebooks on the desktop.
The others are not currently having the above problem.
Does that rule out any of the above?

Wireless I've not troubleshooted and used Google support in the opening post.
Does the WPA offer anything?
This thread was to put together a methodical testing method so that when completed the problem could be narrowed down or possibly solved.
In addition, viewers could potentially refer to the steps in the thread for their troubleshooting.

There was another disconnect with yellow triangle.
This was the info displayed after a successful run of the troubleshooter:

PrintWindows Network Diagnostics Publisher details

Issues found
The default gateway is not availableThe default gateway is not available
The default gateway is a device that connects a local network or computer to the Internet. A broadband modem or router is usually the default gateway. Fixed Fixed
Reset the "Wi-Fi" adapter Completed
Investigate router or broadband modem issues Not run


Issues found Detection details

6 The default gateway is not available Fixed Fixed

The default gateway is a device that connects a local network or computer to the Internet. A broadband modem or router is usually the default gateway.
Reset the "Wi-Fi" adapter Completed

This can sometimes resolve an intermittent problem.
InformationalNetwork Diagnostics Log
File Name: 6D2758A0-C0F0-4AAC-AD71-ED768933C225.Repair.1.etl


Investigate router or broadband modem issues Not run

If you're connected to a hotspot or domain network, contact the network administrator. Otherwise: 1. Unplug or turn off the device. 2. After all the lights on the device are off, wait at least 10 seconds. 3. Turn the device on or plug it back into the power outlet. To restart a router or modem that has a built-in battery, press and quickly release the Reset button.


Detection details Expand

InformationalDiagnostics Information (Network Adapter)
Details about network adapter diagnosis:

Network adapter Wi-Fi driver information:

Description . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260
Manufacturer . . . . . . . . . : Intel Corporation
Provider . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft
Version . . . . . . . . . . . : 17.15.0.5
Inf File Name . . . . . . . . . : C:\WINDOWS\INF\netwbw02.inf
Inf File Date . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, September 15, 2018 7:28:15 AM
Section Name . . . . . . . . . : Install_MPCIEX_GENNGFF_7260_AC_2x2_HMC_WINB_64_AC
Hardware ID . . . . . . . . . . : pci\ven_8086&dev_08b1&subsys_c0708086
Instance Status Flags . . . . . : 0x180200a
Device Manager Status Code . . : 0
IfType . . . . . . . . . . . . : 71
Physical Media Type . . . . . . : 9



InformationalDiagnostics Information (Wireless Connectivity)
Details about wireless connectivity diagnosis:

Information for connection being diagnosed
Interface GUID: e4aad5fa-60f3-48fe-b4e1-ab243609050d
Interface name: Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260
Interface type: Native Wi-Fi

Connection incident diagnosed
Auto Configuration ID: 1
Connection ID: 1

Connection status summary
Connection started at: 2020-07-08 20:41:55-966
Profile match: Success
Pre-Association: Success
Association: Success
Security and Authentication: Success

List of visible access point(s): 0 item(s) total, 0 item(s) displayed

Connection History

Information for Auto Configuration ID 1

List of visible networks: 10 item(s) total, 10 item(s) displayed
BSS Type PHY Security Signal(RSSI) Compatible SSID
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Infra g Yes 53 Yes HP-Print-AB-ENVY 5530 series
Infra <unknown> Yes 63 Yes DIRECT-F1-HP OfficeJet Pro 8720
Infra <unknown> Yes 53 Yes ATTAvbZFtA
Infra <unknown> Yes 33 Yes ZakattaK
Infra <unknown> Yes 33 Yes 9203Wifi
Infra <unknown> Yes 99 Yes CellSpot_2.4GHz_CCC8
Infra <unknown> Yes 76 Yes ATT8EVwiVS
Infra <unknown> Yes 38 Yes ATT8EVwiVS-5ghz
Infra <unknown> Yes 16 Yes stjohn
Infra <unknown> Yes 23 Yes CellSpot_5GHz_CCC8

List of preferred networks: 4 item(s)
Profile: CellSpot_2.4GHz_CCC8
SSID: CellSpot_2.4GHz_CCC8
SSID length: 20
Connection mode: Infra
Security: Yes
Set by group policy: No
Connect even if network is not broadcasting: No
Connectable: Yes
Profile: CellSpot_5GHz_CCC8 2
SSID: CellSpot_5GHz_CCC8
SSID length: 18
Connection mode: Infra
Security: Yes
Set by group policy: No
Connect even if network is not broadcasting: No
Connectable: No
Reason: 0x00028001
Profile: CellSpot_5GHz_CCC8
SSID: CellSpot_5GHz_CCC8
SSID length: 18
Connection mode: Infra
Security: Yes
Set by group policy: No
Connect even if network is not broadcasting: No
Connectable: No
Reason: 0x00028003
Profile: google9005
SSID: google9005
SSID length: 10
Connection mode: Infra
Security: Yes
Set by group policy: No
Connect even if network is not broadcasting: No
Connectable: No
Reason: 0x00028001

Information for Connection ID 1
Connection started at: 2020-07-08 20:41:55-966
Auto Configuration ID: 1
Profile: CellSpot_2.4GHz_CCC8
SSID: CellSpot_2.4GHz_CCC8
SSID length: 20
Connection mode: Infra
Security: Yes
Pre-Association and Association
Connectivity settings provided by hardware manufacturer (IHV): No
Security settings provided by hardware manufacturer (IHV): No
Profile matches network requirements: Success
Pre-association status: Success
Association status: Success
Last AP: 08-62-66-c1-cc-c8
Security and Authentication
Configured security type: WPA2-PSK
Configured encryption type: CCMP(AES)
802.1X protocol: No
Key exchange initiated: Yes
Unicast key received: Yes
Multicast key received: Yes
Number of security packets received: 0
Number of security packets sent: 0
Security attempt status: Success
Connectivity
Packet statistics
Ndis Rx: 150918
Ndis Tx: 87465
Unicast decrypt success: 0
Multicast decrypt success: 0
Unicast decrypt failure: 0
Multicast decrypt failure: 0
Rx success: 0
Rx failure: 0
Tx success: 0
Tx failure: 0
Tx retry: 0
Tx multiple retry: 0
Tx max lifetime exceeded: 0
Tx ACK failure: 0
Roaming history: 3 item(s)
Times: 2020-07-09 01:09:17-352
Roamed from BSSID: 08-62-66-c1-cc-c8
Reason: 0x00000002
Times: 2020-07-09 01:00:17-158
Roamed from BSSID: 08-62-66-c1-cc-c8
Reason: 0x00000002
Times: 2020-07-09 00:58:34-147
Roamed from BSSID: 08-62-66-c1-cc-c8
Reason: 0x00000002




InformationalDiagnostics Information (Wireless Connectivity)
Details about wireless connectivity diagnosis:

For complete information about this session see the wireless connectivity information event.

Helper Class: Auto Configuration
Initialize status: Success

Information for connection being diagnosed
Interface GUID: e4aad5fa-60f3-48fe-b4e1-ab243609050d
Interface name: Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260
Interface type: Native Wi-Fi

Result of diagnosis: There may be problem






InformationalDiagnostics Information (Wireless Network Adapter)
Details about wireless network adapter diagnosis:

For complete information about this session see the wireless connectivity information event.

Helper Class: Native Wi-Fi MSM
Initialize status: Success

Information for connection being diagnosed
Interface GUID: e4aad5fa-60f3-48fe-b4e1-ab243609050d
Interface name: Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260
Interface type: Native Wi-Fi
Profile: CellSpot_2.4GHz_CCC8
SSID: CellSpot_2.4GHz_CCC8
SSID length: 20
Connection mode: Infra
Security: Yes
Connect even if network is not broadcasting: No

Result of diagnosis: There may be problem






InformationalNetwork Diagnostics Log
File Name: 6D2758A0-C0F0-4AAC-AD71-ED768933C225.Diagnose.0.etl

InformationalOther Networking Configuration and Logs
File Name: NetworkConfiguration.cab

Collection information
Computer Name: DESKTOP-9HEBUKS
Windows Version: 10.0
Architecture: x64
Time: Thursday, July 9, 2020 1:18:51 AM

Publisher details Expand

Windows Network Diagnostics
Detects problems with network connectivity.
Package Version: 4.0
Publisher: Microsoft Windows


If the WPA is useful it can be found and uploaded:
InformationalNetwork Diagnostics Log
File Name: 6D2758A0-C0F0-4AAC-AD71-ED768933C225.Diagnose.0.etl

Impossible for the home user, from an RF engineering point of view.
The basic problem can be the proximity of the RF sources within the rest of a Laptop's/PC electronics. Lack of shielding, layout of hardware, placement of aerials etc.

This is all fixed in a Laptop, the only solution maybe an external USB wireless dongle which can be distanced a bit.

Those are good signal levels, roughly what you might expect, so you would not get disconnections in a perfect scenario.
Signal levels and some arbitary "quality" measurement, or various software diagnostics will not show anything useful.

The -20 dBm to -25 dBm levels are ironically rather too high, and may well interfere with other electronics.

My Laptop 1 m from the Wireless Access Point is around -35 dBm to -40 dBm, however close I get it is limited to that. The RF power is presumably auto-reduced.
This RF power limitation is a European/UK requirement if I remember correctly.

I have bought Laptops with these wireless disconnection problems and they are rejected as you cannot solve an internal RF design problem. The Laptop is as is, and that is it, apart from adding external hardware.