Horrible performance on WRT54GR

Before I rant, let me first make the observation that epinions has the WRT54G and WRT54GR listed as the same product. They are not. This review is for the WRT54GR. I was actually replacing the WRT54G with the WRT54GR because I needed the extra range (thus the R at the end of the model number..stands for "RangeBooster"). Anyway, I have been SUPER pleased with my WRT54G router...easy to setup and use, consistant connection, never fails good range (as advertised) and excellent performance. Overall, this is a great router for the aveage home network. However, as stated above, I recently got some wireless client devices that need more range the the WRT54G gave me so i decided to upgrade to the WRT54GR. Originally, i was tempted to get the WRT54R which is a simple antenna that you can place anywhere in your house...it picks up the signal from the router and then boosts it to clients. However, I quickly realized that the antenna cost the same amount as the WRT54GR router rangebooster combo...and according to linksys, should give me the same range. So, I purchased the WRT54GR router. I had problems with this thing from the get go. First off, the linksys setup cd is horrible..I think its suppose to be a supplement, easy to use setup for people that dont know anything about networks. Luckily, since ive been running the WRT54G for the last 4 years, I knew enough to just go straight to the router admin page and set it up there. It took many reboots and modem recycles to get the router to obtain and hold an IP address from the modem. Once that was achieved, I went directly to the laptop that was most sensative to the range issues (non-of my PC's have range issues..just this one Apple G4 laptop). Low and behold, the range issues were solved. I had GREAT range with the new router. However, as i started testing stuff, i quickly realized that i was experiencing SERIOUS performance problems. So i went back to my workstation which is hardwired to the router and ran a bandwidth test on cnet.com. Much to my suprise, i was reading me at a constant 128kbs. I didnt know what my current bandwidth was, but i knew it was better then that. So i disconnect the router and plugged my workstation right into my cable modem and went back to cnet.com. This time it was reading me at a blazing 10mbs (i recently upgraded my ISP account to 8mbs). I tried everything i could think of to make the new router run faster....new cat5 cables, messed with some settings, switched the MTU from auto to 1450...linksys tech support was little to no help. Im returning this router today and ive already hooked my trusty old WRT54G router back up (cnet is reading this set up at about 5 mbs...which isnt 100% of my true 10mbs bandwidth, but its much more doable then 128kbs i had with the new router). Long story short, wait till Linksys comes out with a V2, V3,....verison of this router before you waste your time with it.