so my question is can i use the serial port on my board.. since its attached to the max232 pin and communicating with the comp through serial to usb dongle
Got it! yes you can i have done successfully this with XBee modules but the thing is two things at the same time will not happen , you have to unplug the Serial connection from the computer and connect your RF module with Rx/Tx to receive and send and no need of the library but if you want to use the serial port for the communication with the software in pc then definitely you have to go the NewSoftSerial library way to form software serial to send/receive across.
I have previously also use these darn cheap RF modules , also the super cheap 433Mhz one's , so here is another option! Virtual Wire library that will provide to the ability to change the Rx/Tx pin's ,freeing up you Hardware Tx/Rx for Serial comm. via MAX IC.
--
Nishant