How-to set static IP address for debian live image

[Jonathan Murray <jmurray@whoi.edu>]

I am running :

Linux debian 2.6.26-2-686 #1 SMP Sat Dec 26 09:01:51 UTC 2009 i686 GNU/Linux

and attempting to install a live image on a Compact Flash card for use 
in a PC104.

I ran

lh_config -b usb-hdd -p standard --syslinux-timeout=1

then I edited config/binary and then ran

lh_build

I am trying to build an image with a static IP address. I have

# $LH_BOOTAPPEND_INSTALL: set boot parameters
# (Default: empty)
LH_BOOTAPPEND_INSTALL="ip=eth0,128.128.204.73,255.255.255.0"

in config/binary

but it always comes up as DHCP. Any ideas welcome.

thanks