KDEConnect doesn't autoconnect anymore?!?

[dpshak]

I've been using KDEConnect to connect my Android phones to computers on my LAN for a number of years now.
Recently, KDEConnect stopped automagically connecting to my LAN - the most recent KDEConnect update in Gentoo, occurred on 10DEC23. USED to be, anytime my phone was in range of my LAN, KDEConnect would (automatically) connect. So, e.g. when MY phone connected to my LAN, my primary computer would be connected to my phone. NOW, I have to 'pair' the two devices...yes, it pairs right up (that info was retained) but, if I'm not right next to the computer I'm trying to pair with... That defeats, IMO, the purpose of the app!

So, I'm putting this up here, to see if anybody else using Gentoo has run into this problem? IOW: Is this a Gentoo specific problem? Or, is this a new 'feature?'
A rudimentary Google Search didn't give me any clues; a search of this forum resulted in 93 responses that did NOT have anything to do with KDEConnect a search or the KDEConnect manual doesn't suggest anything has changed; and the KDEConnect forums aren't giving me any answers...
I REALLY don't want to create a profile on the KDE forums JUST for this problem...