Great news everyone...I'm able to connect!
Every time Samsung releases a TV update I always go back to see if my SP3 is able to connect. Up until now, I was always confronted with the same disappointment resulting from the the TV timing out.
Current Software version is 2125 which was released a day or so ago. Not sure if it was the TV update that corrected the issue, or if a fix was included in a recent Microsoft update. Regardless, it's working and I'm an even happier SP3 owner :). What a way to start the new year!
Blessings.