The main reason I'm hesitant to buy the arduino lilypad programmer is because there are two different versions of it. One is 3.3v and the other is 5v.... maybe the one you linked me to handles both cases, but it looks exactly like the ones I was looking at. I'm unsure how I would know whether I need the 3.3v or the 5v version and I don't know exactly what would happen if I used the wrong one.
Both versions can be switched to the other mode by cutting a lead and soldering a jumper or switch in place, but I still don't want to plug it in until I know which version I should be using.
Like I said, my board seems to be running at around 3.3v, so I'm sure that's the one I need, but I just thought I should ask for advice before buying anything.
If I were to instead go with the USB to RS232 converter as suggested above, how would I need to connect that to my board? The board I am trying to reprogram can be seen here:
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9883
It has pictures of the board and at the bottom there are schematics and eagle files. There are 3 unused sections of the board, one is the set of 6 pins for the serial connection that I mentioned earlier. Is this where I would need to somehow connect the RS232 stuff that you recommended? If so the header wouldn't match with the board you recommended.
There is also an ISP section, and I have no idea what the purpose of that is, so if anyone could enlighten me that would be great. It seems to match the pins on the RS232 board but I know that doesn't necessarily mean they go together.
The third unused section on the board, as far as I can gather, is just there for possible expansions of the board so that I could add new boards if I chose to do so.