Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Capital Stock and Stock Restrictions (Details Textual)

v2.4.1.9
Capital Stock and Stock Restrictions (Details Textual) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Mar. 31, 2013
Mar. 31, 2012
Aug. 29, 2011
May 14, 2015
Preferred Stock [Member]            
Class of Stock [Line Items]            
Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized 1,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_PreferredStockMember
1,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_PreferredStockMember
       
Class A Common Stock [Member]            
Class of Stock [Line Items]            
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired 336,000us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
162,000us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
5,788,000us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
     
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding 46,839,361us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
45,852,740us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
44,970,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
50,429,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
   
Class B Common Stock [Member]            
Class of Stock [Line Items]            
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding 13,937,151us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassBMember
13,937,151us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassBMember
13,937,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassBMember
13,937,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassBMember
   
August Two Thousand Eleven Authorization [Member] | Class A Common Stock [Member]            
Class of Stock [Line Items]            
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount         $ 20.0us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= wstl_AugustTwoThousandElevenAuthorizationMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
 
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired     5,700,000us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= wstl_AugustTwoThousandElevenAuthorizationMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
     
Treasury Stock Acquired, Average Cost Per Share     2.20us-gaap_TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= wstl_AugustTwoThousandElevenAuthorizationMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
     
Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchases Amount 0.1wstl_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchasesAmount
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= wstl_AugustTwoThousandElevenAuthorizationMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
         
Outside of Publically Announced Repurchase Program [Member] | Class A Common Stock [Member]            
Class of Stock [Line Items]            
Treasury Stock Acquired, Average Cost Per Share 2.57us-gaap_TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= wstl_OutsideOfPublicallyAnnouncedRepurchaseProgramMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
2.22us-gaap_TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= wstl_OutsideOfPublicallyAnnouncedRepurchaseProgramMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
2.32us-gaap_TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= wstl_OutsideOfPublicallyAnnouncedRepurchaseProgramMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
     
Shares Paid for Tax Withholding for Share Based Compensation 335,890us-gaap_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= wstl_OutsideOfPublicallyAnnouncedRepurchaseProgramMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
161,699us-gaap_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= wstl_OutsideOfPublicallyAnnouncedRepurchaseProgramMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
133,816us-gaap_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= wstl_OutsideOfPublicallyAnnouncedRepurchaseProgramMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
     
Voting trust and other trusts [Member] | Class B Common Stock [Member]            
Class of Stock [Line Items]            
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding 13,937,150us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= wstl_VotingTrustAndOtherTrustsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassBMember
         
Subsequent Event [Member] | Voting Trust [Member]            
Class of Stock [Line Items]            
Voting Control           50.50%wstl_VotingControl
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= wstl_VotingTrustMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Subsequent Event [Member] | Voting trust and other trusts [Member]            
Class of Stock [Line Items]            
Voting Control           54.40%wstl_VotingControl
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= wstl_VotingTrustAndOtherTrustsMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember