Get a visual status on your Windows Media Player server with this PowerShell code and a ThingM blink(1) USB RGB LED
More information is here: http://obrienlabs.net/windows-media-center-status-light-using-blink1/
#
# This script is designed to loop forever with a 5 second wait between
# each loop. It will check if Windows Media Center is recording
# and if it is, then set the blink(1) light to RED. If it is not recording
# set the blink(1) light to GREEN.
#
# This script uses the blink(1) GUI software with the API server enabled.
# You could use the blink(1) CLI utility instead if you wanted. I chose
# to go with the GUI API so that I could use the GUI if needed.
#
# Pat O'Brien - http://obrienlabs.net
# April 8, 2016
#
while($true) {
# WMC is open locally or on an extender
$wmcshell = Get-Process ehshell -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
# WMC is recording a show
$wmcrec = Get-Process ehrec -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
if ( $wmcshell -or $wmcrec) {
# Recording a show, set status to red
Write-Host "ehshell.exe or ehrec.exe found, setting blink(1) status to red"
Invoke-RestMethod -URI "http://localhost:8934/blink1/fadeToRGB?rgb=%23FF0000"
} else {
# Not recording a show, set status to green
Write-Host "ehshell.exe or ehrec.exe not found, setting blink(1) status to green"
Invoke-RestMethod -URI "http://localhost:8934/blink1/fadeToRGB?rgb=%2300FF00"
}
# Sleep for 5 seconds, then check again
Start-Sleep -s 5
}