Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Restructuring Charge (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Restructuring Charge (Details) (USD $)
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Sep. 30, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Mar. 31, 2013
Restructuring charges                    
Liability at beginning of period     $ 57,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve       $ 6,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve $ 57,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve $ 6,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve $ 613,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
Restructuring 3,188,000us-gaap_RestructuringCharges (2,000)us-gaap_RestructuringCharges 57,000us-gaap_RestructuringCharges 62,000us-gaap_RestructuringCharges 38,000us-gaap_RestructuringCharges 169,000us-gaap_RestructuringCharges 66,000us-gaap_RestructuringCharges 3,243,000us-gaap_RestructuringCharges 335,000us-gaap_RestructuringCharges 149,000us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
Utilized               (425,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring (284,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring (756,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring
Liability at end of period 2,804,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve     57,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve       2,804,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve 57,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve 6,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
Accrued restructuring 1,161,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserveCurrent     57,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserveCurrent       1,161,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserveCurrent 57,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserveCurrent  
Employee-related [Member]                    
Restructuring charges                    
Liability at beginning of period     57,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_EmployeeRelatedRestructuringCostMember
      6,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_EmployeeRelatedRestructuringCostMember
57,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_EmployeeRelatedRestructuringCostMember
6,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_EmployeeRelatedRestructuringCostMember
561,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_EmployeeRelatedRestructuringCostMember
Restructuring               337,000us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_EmployeeRelatedRestructuringCostMember
335,000us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_EmployeeRelatedRestructuringCostMember
89,000us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_EmployeeRelatedRestructuringCostMember
Utilized               (379,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_EmployeeRelatedRestructuringCostMember
(284,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_EmployeeRelatedRestructuringCostMember
(644,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_EmployeeRelatedRestructuringCostMember
Liability at end of period 15,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_EmployeeRelatedRestructuringCostMember
    57,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_EmployeeRelatedRestructuringCostMember
      15,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_EmployeeRelatedRestructuringCostMember
57,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_EmployeeRelatedRestructuringCostMember
6,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_EmployeeRelatedRestructuringCostMember
Accrued restructuring       57,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserveCurrent
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_EmployeeRelatedRestructuringCostMember
        57,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserveCurrent
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_EmployeeRelatedRestructuringCostMember
 
Other costs [Member]                    
Restructuring charges                    
Liability at beginning of period     0us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
        0us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
  52,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
Restructuring               2,906,000us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
  60,000us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
Restructuring Reserve, Settled without Cash               (71,000)us-gaap_RestructuringReserveSettledWithoutCash1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
   
Utilized               (46,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
  (112,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
Liability at end of period $ 2,789,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
            $ 2,789,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
  $ 0us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_OtherRestructuringCostsMember