More airtunes frustration. 1.5 years and it still doesn't work.

Question

After a year and a half, I'm ready to wop Steve Jobs upside the head. This shouldn't be so difficult, but maybe I'm just looking for too much.
The straight scoop:
I have an iMac G5 with built in airport extreme. Connected via ethernet cable to a linksys wireless router which is connected via cable to my DSL modem. That part works fine. There is also a windows machine connected wirelessly to the linksys for internet access (using WPA). That works fine also, and is the reason for the Linksys. I added the airport express to the existing network (only to play airtunes, no other networking desired). It works, for maybe 1 song, then it starts dropping out a few seconds at a time, then completely drops out, no music at all. However, the green light is still on. Shouldn't this work?!! I've also done this with no wireless security at all, and it makes no difference.
Background for those who want more info:
Before I got the linksys and the windows box connected, I used to go straight to the dsl modem with the iMac ethernet. At that time, I had the iMac talking straight to the airport express (wirelessly) for airtunes. It worked okay, but only in the sense that it didn't drop out while playing music. Once I stopped playing iTunes through it (even if I just paused it for a minute), the airport would lose connectivity, and I'd have to chose it from the airport menu again in order to see it and play to it. And the light was NEVER green in this config. It always flashed amber whether playing music or not.
So I'm at a loss now. I've removed the AX from the network, and created it's own network for music only (like it used to be). It works (with the flashing amber light), but I can't use the internet with the mac and transmit music at the same time. I have to go under "location" in the apple menu and choose which network I want, the internet access (via ethernet), or the airtunes network. Isn't there any way to do both at once since they aren't both on the wire or wireless?
Help please.
THANKS
David

Answer 1

one of the things you might want to try is to enable the "airtunes over ethernet" functionality using the "Airport admin utility" (look in the tab "music"). That way, when connecting the airport via ethernet to your home network, you can stream the music using the more reliable wired network.
You may also wish to upgrade the firmware of your Aiport express, which could solve the problem.
The way I see it is that the AE also works as a hub, thereby relaying every packet on your network. given that the ether is already crowded because of your other WAP, it may fill the network.
You can also switch off the network functionality of your AE, using the same admin utility.
good luck