how will i be able to connect the pic16f877a to the rs232 without the use of level coverter? will the pic and the pc be able to understand each other?
and most importantly, wont that be dangerous for my pc?

i will do the interfacing of the pic directly to the pc once i get a reply from you.

knowing that my pc will be safe with the max232., i gave it a try and connected it to the pic. I burned you program and set the config that you've given me to the hyper terminal. the result was, there was no response..i was even having a hard time typing the word SOS because the hyperterminal was slow to respond with every key pressed.