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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
6 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2011
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Business Description and Accounting Policies [Text Block]
NOTE 1 - DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Description of Business
 
     CalAmp Corp. ("CalAmp" or the "Company") develops and markets wireless communications solutions that deliver data, voice and video for critical networked applications. The Company's two business segments are Wireless DataCom, which serves utility, government and enterprise customers, and Satellite, which focuses on the North American Direct Broadcast Satellite market.
 
      The Company uses a 52-53 week fiscal year ending on the Saturday closest to February 28, which for fiscal 2011 fell on February 26, 2011. The actual interim periods ended on August 27, 2011 and August 28, 2010. In the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements, the 2011 fiscal year end is shown as February 28 and the interim period end for both years is shown as August 31 for clarity of presentation.
 
      Certain notes and other information are condensed or omitted from the interim financial statements presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Therefore, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2011.
 
      In the opinion of the Company's management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary to present fairly the Company's financial position at August 31, 2011 and its results of operations for the three and six months ended August 31, 2011 and 2010. The results of operations for such periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full fiscal year.
 
      All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.
 
Revenue Recognition
 
      The Company recognizes revenue from product sales when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collection of the sales price is reasonably assured. Generally, these criteria are met at the time product is shipped, except for shipments made on the basis of "FOB Destination" terms, in which case title transfers to the customer and the revenue is recorded by the Company when the shipment reaches the customer. Customers do not have rights of return except for defective products returned during the warranty period.
 
      The Company defers revenues from products sold with data communication services because the services are essential to the functionality of the products, and accordingly, the associated product costs are recorded as deferred costs. Such deferred revenue and cost amounts are recognized on a straight-line basis over the minimum contractual service period of one year. Revenues from renewals of airtime services after the initial one year term are recognized as the services are provided. When customers prepay airtime renewals, such amounts are recorded as deferred revenues and are recognized over the renewal term.
 
      The Company also undertakes projects that include the design and development of communication systems used in the public safety and transportation sectors that are customized to customers' specifications or that involve fixed site construction. Sales under such contracts are recorded under the percentage-of-completion method. Costs and estimated revenues are recorded as work is performed based on the percentage that incurred costs bear to estimated total costs utilizing the most recent estimates of costs. If the current contract estimate indicates a loss, provision is made for the total anticipated loss in the current period.  

Costs and Estimated Earnings on Uncompleted Contracts
 
      Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts arise when contract revenues have been recognized on the percentage-of-completion method in advance of when the amounts can be invoiced to the customers under the terms of the contracts. Such amounts are billable to the customers upon various measures of performance, including achievement of certain milestones, completion of specified units, or completion of a contract. Costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts and related amounts billed were as follows (in thousands):
 
          August 31,   February 28,
      2011   2011
  Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts       $ 3,599       $ 2,167
  Estimated earnings     2,715     1,713
        6,314     3,880
  Less: billings to date     4,165     2,594
  Net costs and earnings in excess of billings   $ 2,149   $      1,286
               
      Such amounts were included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets under the following captions (in thousands):
 
      August 31,   February 28,
      2011       2011
  Costs and estimated earnings in excess                
         of billings on uncompleted contracts       $      2,203     $      1,331  
  Billings in excess of costs and estimated                
         earnings on uncompleted contracts                
         (included in other current liabilities)     (54 )     (45 )
      Net costs and earnings in excess of billings   $ 2,149     $ 1,286  
                   
Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
     The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument for which it is practicable to estimate:
 
Cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable - The carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value given the short maturity of these instruments.
 
Debt - The estimated fair value of the Company's bank debt approximates the carrying value of such debt because the interest rate is variable and is market-based.
  
Reclassifications
   
     Certain amounts in the financial statements of the prior year have been reclassified to conform to the fiscal 2012 presentation with no effect on net earnings. Specifically, in the February 28, 2011 consolidated balance sheet, $1,331,000 previously included in prepaid expenses and other current assets has been reclassified to costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts.