Financial Statements of Parent and Subsidiary Guarantors (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands	6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Oct. 01, 2010	Apr. 01, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 23,786	$ 96,086
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, equipment and satellites, net	(133,313)	(109,518)
Cash paid for patents, licenses and other assets	(8,295)	(8,427)
Payment related to acquisition of business, net of cash acquired		(13,456)	(13,500)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(141,608)	(131,401)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from line of credit borrowings	130,000	15,000
Payments on line of credit	(20,000)	(30,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under equity plans	6,167	16,234
Purchase of common stock in treasury	(2,250)	(1,884)
Payments on capital lease	(465)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	113,452	(650)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(113)	115
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(4,483)	(35,850)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	40,490	89,631	89,631
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	36,007	53,781	40,490
Issuing Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(12,993)	36,019
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, equipment and satellites, net	(116,927)	(81,154)
Cash paid for patents, licenses and other assets	(8,277)	(8,370)
Payment related to acquisition of business, net of cash acquired		(14,203)
Long - term intercompany notes and investments	3,346	(2,980)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(121,858)	(106,707)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from line of credit borrowings	130,000	15,000
Payments on line of credit	(20,000)	(30,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under equity plans	6,167	16,234
Purchase of common stock in treasury	(2,250)	(1,884)
Payments on capital lease	(54)
Intercompany long-term financing	20,686	41,858
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	134,549	41,208
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(302)	(29,480)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	24,347	66,258	66,258
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	24,045	36,778
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	30,987	60,505
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, equipment and satellites, net	(16,129)	(27,098)
Cash paid for patents, licenses and other assets		(25)
Long - term intercompany notes and investments		100
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(16,129)	(27,023)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on capital lease	(411)
Intercompany long-term financing	(20,686)	(41,745)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(21,097)	(41,745)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(6,239)	(8,263)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	7,600	16,216	16,216
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,361	7,953
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	7,704	(201)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, equipment and satellites, net	(2,169)	(1,503)
Cash paid for patents, licenses and other assets	(18)	(32)
Payment related to acquisition of business, net of cash acquired		747
Long - term intercompany notes and investments		(213)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(2,187)	(1,001)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Intercompany long-term financing	(3,346)	2,980
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(3,346)	2,980
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(113)	115
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	2,058	1,893
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	8,543	7,157	7,157
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	10,601	9,050
Consolidation and Elimination Adjustments [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(1,912)	(237)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, equipment and satellites, net	1,912	237
Long - term intercompany notes and investments	(3,346)	3,093
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(1,434)	3,330
Cash flows from financing activities:
Intercompany long-term financing	3,346	(3,093)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	3,346	(3,093)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 0	$ 0