Segment information - Net sales, income (loss) before provision for income taxes and other related segment information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2020	Jan. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 12,414	$ 10,647
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	12	808
Depreciation and amortization	255	137
Total assets	39,832	32,507	$ 37,700
RF Connector and Cable Assembly
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	3,189	3,258
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	282	280
Depreciation and amortization	42	45
Total assets	7,496	6,635
Custom Cabling Manufacturing and Assembly
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	9,225	7,389
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	(281)	506
Depreciation and amortization	213	92
Total assets	17,158	11,026
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	11	22
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
Total assets	$ 15,178	$ 14,846