After erasing, 2019 16" MacBook Pro cannot see my WiFi network at startup - I have tried lots of things - Please help

what model-year and screen size iMac?

does it have thunderbolt-3?

do you have a genuine Thunderbolt cable?

if new enough, have you considered Internet Sharing from your iMac over a direct Thunderbolt [NOT just USB-C] cable?

I am including my "laundry list" of common wi-fi issues that can preclude using a Wi-Fi network automatically.

To be used for Internet recovery, seeing certain error message suggests your provided Wi-Fi Network may be inadequate in some fashion, and cannot be used (for this purpose) in its current state.

Common problems include:

Hidden Network-name

required use of a proxy server to get Internet access

required use of a login page to get Internet access

Use of a login server or certificate to get Internet access

Use of PPPoE in the Mac to get Internet access (typically only applies to DSL)

Use of Fixed IP address rather than good old DHCP

Variance of the time by more than five minutes

Failure of Router to provide workable DNS server addresses, or providing 0.0.0.0 [may produce -2002f]

If you have an Ethernet port, you may in some cases be able to move your Mac close to the Router and connect to the Router using Ethernet.

Internet sharing ThunderBolt-3 to Thunderbolt-3 should work.

But if you balked at the Apple Belkin USB-C to Ethernet adapter at US$30, know that the Thunderbolt-3 <-> Thunderbolt-2 adapter costs US$50, requires an additional ThunderBolt-2 cable, another US$30, and is most likely only good for this one-off transfer.

If you "found" another Thunderbolt-3 computer and Thunderbolt-3 cable laying around, that could be a cheap alternative.

There is no strong track record recorded here of ThunderBolt-3 connection working first time, every time. It was something to try before getting the Ethernet adapter.

¡Congratulations!

Wow, I think that one is the first solution of that type for the surprisingly common 'can't connect after software update/recovery' issue.

sometimes when that is the underlying issue, moving the computer within a few feet of the Router can get you enough signal to proceed, even with a disconnected antenna lead.

I will add your solution to the collective knowledge we are accumulating here -- thanks so much for responding again, because other may get here by searching for a similar issue.

Readers have a remarkably wide experience, and are free to read and just pass by if they have nothing to add. A LOT of problems are solved by persistent Users just based on... 'have you considered' .. kinds of suggestions. As the User with the issue, YOU end up doing the heavy lifting to get the problem solved.

Please, please, please share your results, good or bad.