[bill_orange]

So you're creating the settings file by hand? I'd suggest going back a couple of weeks to a build with Save button (try #0518) and create the manual/static connection in the Settings add-on, then you can compare the settings file created by the add-on with your hand crafted version.

Good advice, Milhouse. I did as you suggested. The error in my manually edited connections file was the nameserver. There were other differences but that one apparently was critical. You have to give Kodi the external nameserver not the gateway address (allowing the gateway to provide nameservice).

Here's the file that works:

[ethernet_b827ebeb576b_cable]
Name=Wired
AutoConnect=true

Modified=2016-06-01T11:09:34.446847Z
IPv4.method=manual
IPv4.netmask_prefixlen=24
IPv4.local_address=192.168.0.198
IPv4.gateway=192.168.0.1
Nameservers=209.18.47.61;209.18.47.62;
IPv6.method=off
IPv6.privacy=disabled
IPv4.DHCP.LastAddress=192.168.0.7
Timeservers=0.pool.ntp.org;1.pool.ntp.org;2.pool.ntp.org;
Domains=socal.rr.com;