knuckles:
do a search on the forums for complainants about the dreaded error message out of sync ,despite you do need some savvy to get them going .of course .
i have spent around 6 months on and off trying to get a sparkfun FTDI board to work despite checking all the forums and trying the remedies suggested ,to no avail ,and its not rocket science with 5-6 wires and the correct driver .
i see hobbyists selling off their entire large kit of parts on ebay as theyve had enough
I am sorry for the problems and frustrations you have experienced with using arduinos and related modules. Perhaps someday you will find a platform better suited to your needs.
Lefty