Minority interest increase decrease from adjustment to temporary equity.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Minority interest increase from share based payment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pcti_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Non controlling interest including temporary equity attributable to minority interest

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Non controlling interest including temporary equity attributable to minority interest adjustment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pcti_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

non controlling interest including temporary equity attributable to minority interest increase from share based payment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Non controlling interest including temporary equity attributable to minority interest net loss.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pcti_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Purchase of membership interest noncontrolling interest net.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pcti_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Purchase of 19% membership interest for permanent basis as a noncontrolling interest.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pcti_PurchaseOfMembershipInterestNoncontrollingInterestPermanent
Namespace Prefix:	pcti_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Purchase of membership interest regarding redeemable noncontrolling interest.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pcti_PurchaseOfMembershipInterestNoncontrollingInterestRedeemable
Namespace Prefix:	pcti_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Temporary equity carrying amount attributable to noncontrolling interest adjustment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pcti_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Temporary equity carrying amount attributable to noncontrolling interest increase from share based payment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pcti_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Temporary equity carrying amount attributable to noncontrolling interest net income.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pcti_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which is directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (that is, noncontrolling interest, previously referred to as minority interest).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 27

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 51

-Paragraph A3

-Appendix A

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 51

-Paragraph 26

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 20

-Article 7

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.31)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 51

-Paragraph 38

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of Net Income (Loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 55

-Paragraph 4J

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=18733213&loc=SL4591551-111686

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 51

-Paragraph A1, A4, A5

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 51

-Paragraph 38

-Subparagraph a

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1A

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=18733093&loc=SL4573702-111684

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 51

-Paragraph 38

-Subparagraph c(1)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount, attributable to noncontrolling interests, of an entity's issued and outstanding stock which is not included within permanent equity. Temporary equity is a security with redemption features that are outside the control of the issuer, is not classified as an asset or liability in conformity with GAAP, and is not mandatorily redeemable. Includes any type of security that is redeemable at a fixed or determinable price or on a fixed or determinable date or dates, is redeemable at the option of the holder, or has conditions for redemption which are not solely within the control of the issuer. Includes stock with a put option held by an ESOP and stock redeemable by a holder only in the event of a change in control of the issuer.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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PCTEL Secure (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Summary of Noncontrolling Interest
Balance at December 31, 2011			$ 531
Redeemable equity, Beginning balance			1,731
Noncontrolling Interest, Total, Beginning Balance			2,262
Share-based payments for PCTEL Secure, Noncontrolling Interest, Permanent			0
Share-based payments for PCTEL Secure, Noncontrolling Interest, Redeemable			39
Share-based payments for PCTEL Secure, Noncontrolling Interest, Total			39
Purchase of 19% membership interest, Noncontrolling Interest, Permanent			0
Purchase of 19% membership interest, Noncontrolling Interest, Redeemable			(931)
Purchase of 19% membership interest, Noncontrolling Interest, Total			(931)
Adjustment to temporary equity for PCTEL, Noncontrolling, Permanent			0
Adjustment to temporary equity for PCTEL, Noncontrolling, Redeemable			648
Adjustment to temporary equity for PCTEL, Noncontrolling, Total			648
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(334)	(240)	(687)	(467)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest, Redeemable			(687)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest, Total			(687)
Balance at June 30, 2012	531		531
Redeemable equity, Ending balance	800		800
Noncontrolling Interest, Total, Ending Balance	$ 1,331		$ 1,331