Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2013 Segment	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012 Segment
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Number of operating segments	2					2
Net foreign exchange losses resulting from foreign currency transactions included in other income		$ 10,000	$ 9,000	$ 26,000	$ 26,000
Pctel Secure [Member]
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Royalty receivable as percentage of net sale price				7.00%
Maximum royalty rate				10,000,000
Pctel Secure [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Maximum royalty rate				$ 10,000,000