Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Restructuring Charge (Details Textual)

v2.4.1.9
Restructuring Charge (Details Textual) (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
Mar. 31, 2012
Restructuring Charge (Textual) [Abstract]                      
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  
Accrued restructuring 1,161,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserveCurrent     57,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserveCurrent       1,161,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserveCurrent 57,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserveCurrent    
Accrued restructuring non-current 1,642,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserveNoncurrent             1,642,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserveNoncurrent      
Payments for Restructuring               425,000us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring 284,000us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring 756,000us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring  
Unpaid balance of restructuring charges 2,804,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve     57,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve       2,804,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve 57,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve 6,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve 613,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
4Q15 Restructuring [Member]                      
Restructuring Charge (Textual) [Abstract]                      
Restructuring and Related Cost, Number of Positions Eliminated               17us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostNumberOfPositionsEliminated
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= wstl_A4Q15RestructuringMember
     
Restructuring 3,200,000us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= wstl_A4Q15RestructuringMember
                   
Impairment of Leasehold 2,700,000us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLeasehold
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= wstl_A4Q15RestructuringMember
                   
Kentrox [Member]                      
Restructuring Charge (Textual) [Abstract]                      
Restructuring and Related Cost, Number of Positions Eliminated                 12us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostNumberOfPositionsEliminated
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= wstl_KentroxMember
   
Restructuring               55,000us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= wstl_KentroxMember
335,000us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= wstl_KentroxMember
   
Payments for Restructuring                 278,000us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= wstl_KentroxMember
   
Cumulative Restructuring               390,000wstl_CumulativeRestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= wstl_KentroxMember
     
Noran Tel Restructuring [Member]                      
Restructuring Charge (Textual) [Abstract]                      
Restructuring and Related Cost, Number of Positions Eliminated                   35us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostNumberOfPositionsEliminated
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= wstl_NoranTelRestructuringMember
 
Restructuring                   149,000us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= wstl_NoranTelRestructuringMember
 
Cumulative Restructuring                   424,000wstl_CumulativeRestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= wstl_NoranTelRestructuringMember
 
Employee Related Restructuring Cost [Member]                      
Restructuring Charge (Textual) [Abstract]                      
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
 
Accrued restructuring       57,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserveCurrent
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_EmployeeRelatedRestructuringCostMember
        57,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserveCurrent
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_EmployeeRelatedRestructuringCostMember
   
Payments for Restructuring               379,000us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_EmployeeRelatedRestructuringCostMember
284,000us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_EmployeeRelatedRestructuringCostMember
644,000us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_EmployeeRelatedRestructuringCostMember
 
Unpaid balance of restructuring charges $ 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
$ 561,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= wstl_EmployeeRelatedRestructuringCostMember