> Default ping only does 5.

Depends on the OS. Linux and macOS ping will keep pinging until you ctrl+c. Windows ping I guess is what you're talking about? Even then, I assume Windows ping has a command-line option to change the default number of pings.

> Even if you increase the count, after 20 lost packages wouldn't you have decided the connection isn't up?

Maybe not? It feels like you're just trying to come up with random excuses as to why this isn't real.

> Also this story is about problems with the connection of their house, not the wi-fi.

The connection to their house is a point-to-point line-of-sight WiFi link between the house and the author's father's office building.