Time Capsule file transfer - why so slow?

I've got a simultaneous dual-band Time Capsule serving as a router for my network, which includes a newer Macbook Pro and an older PowerPC G5.
When I transfer a 2GB file directly from the G5 to the MBP (this is of course going through the TC as the router), it takes about 95 seconds, which is 22 MB/s or 172 Mbps if you prefer.
When I transfer the same file from the G5 to the Time Capsule's drive, it takes about 190 seconds, about 11 MB/s or 86 Mbps.
Why is the Time Capsule's drive so much slower? Are these speeds typical for the TC, for example, when you are using Time Machine to back up? (I don't use Time Machine myself, because I'm running Tiger.)
When I hook the two computers directly to each other using ethernet, the same file takes 80 seconds to transfer (25 MB/s or 205 Mpbs).

Well, that is a disappointment. And somewhat puzzling, given that TC is supposed to be a backup solution. You'd think it would be fast. I don't think the drive hardware itself is slow, given what I've read about them (Hitachi Deskstar?).
I have the book you mention and looked up the quote. It also says, "This is partly due to inefficiencies in copying many small files in Apple Filing Protocol
(AFP), and partly due to the low-power, but adequate, processor in the Extreme N (both models)."
The AFP possibly explains why my G5 (Tiger) is slower at writing to the Time Capsule than my husband's Macbook Pro (Leopard).

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