Its time now for our last edition of Money savers, this time we wanted to know more about the cost of getting online. With your dime in mind, Eyewitness News reporter Rick Montañez spent this week comparing prices and options of 3 local Internet service providers.

That's what we used to hear when we wanted to get online...now the modems are silent, but the options are endless.

I have to admit I only looked at 3 major service providers, the new BridgeMaxx, CableOne, and Qwest, and even with just 3 places, I was confused at all the options...wireless, cable, DSL, 1Mb 2Mb or 20Mbs.

"Rick: Whats the difference with all that?
Bob: Basically, 2 differences Rick, you have dial up modems and high speed."

Bob Gates, Channel 3's Tech Expert, tells me you should choose your Internet service based on a few things.

"You can save money by just considering what you're gonna do with the connection."

If you're just checking email, and shopping every once in a while, you don't need the fastest speed connection, which usually run close to $100.

"1 or 2 meg connection is great for a home user."

Ok so home users, chose 1 or 2 Mb...but now it gets tricky...which option do you use to bring that high speed Internet to you.

Lets look at Qwest first.
Which has 1.5 Mb connection advertised on their website as 29.99 per month...then it goes all the way up to what they call beyond fast for 99.99 per month.

Next is CableOne.
Their residential plus is a 3 Mb connection starting at 32 dollars a month, but that's a promotional cost, where you have to sign up for more than one service and sign a 6 month contract.
But a company rep told me the basic plans, the ones not on their website, start at 43 dollars per month.

Moving on to BridgeMaxx, the wireless service.
Their service prices are not listed online, but when I talked to a rep on the phone, I'm told the base 2 Mb service starts at 24.99 per month, but that's which an annual contract.

And of course, nearly all the services have modem rentals and other charges...like if you go with DSL and don't have a land line, then you need to add that.

"When you add DSL into the mix besides the 30 bucks a month you also gotta pay for the phone line."

But, not all areas offer DSL, or cable or wireless. Depending on where you live, that might limit your options.

"If you're like myself and you're out of range of DSL and cable, no hope of getting it anytime soon, wireless is probably a great way to go. You pay a little big more money per month, but that's the price you pay for high speed out in the county."

Of course, you can save money by doing bundle packages, where you get your phone and TV services with your Internet. So basically, it all comes down to where you live and what's offered to you...so I did as much homework as I could for you, now you have to figure out what best serves your needs.