Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail)					1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 26, 2016 USD ($) Patent	Jul. 15, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jul. 14, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2001 USD ($)	Oct. 28, 2016 Patent	Oct. 19, 2016 Patent	Apr. 07, 2016 Patent
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Non-cash impairment charge							$ 10,680,000		$ 10,680,000	$ 12,748,000
Procurement Agreement [Member] | Airtime [Member] | Europe [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Credits provided											$ 3,736,000
Credits used							7,000	$ 7,000	21,000	22,000
Unused credits granted							2,016,000	$ 2,045,000	2,016,000	$ 2,045,000
In-orbit OG2 Satellites One [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Non-cash impairment charge					$ 12,748,000
Removal/decrease in satellite network and other equipment, net					13,788,000
Accumulated depreciation on equipment					1,040,000
OG2 Satellite Impairment [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Non-cash impairment charge					$ 12,748,000		$ 10,680,000
Removal/decrease in satellite network and other equipment, net			$ 13,788,000						13,474,000
Accumulated depreciation on equipment			$ 1,040,000						$ 2,794,000
Launch Plus One Year In Orbit Insurance Coverage for First Launch of Six Satellites [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Insurance coverage on launch of satellite program						$ 66,000,000
Launch Vehicle Flight Only Insurance Coverage for First Launch of Six Satellites [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Insurance coverage on launch of satellite program						22,000,000
First Launch of Six Satellites [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Premium cost for launch of satellite						9,953,000
Launch Plus One Year In Orbit Insurance Coverage for Second Launch of Eleven Satellites [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Insurance coverage on launch of satellite program						120,000,000
Launch Vehicle Flight Only Insurance Coverage for Second Launch of Eleven Satellites [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Insurance coverage on launch of satellite program						22,000,000
Second Launch of Eleven Satellites [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Premium cost for launch of satellite						$ 16,454,000
Percentage of premium as to aggregate premium						5.00%
Launch Plus One Year In-orbit Insurance Coverage for Five Satellites [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Insurance coverage on launch of satellite program				$ 40,000,000
Extended insurance premium cost for satellites		$ 179,000
Extended insurance coverage end date		Dec. 21, 2016
CalAmp Corp [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of patent infringement | Patent														5
CalAmp Corp [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of patent denied for reconsideration | Patent													4
Number of patent claims dismissed | Patent												1
Number of remaining patent in-suit | Patent												3
CalAmp Wireless Networks Corporation [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of patent infringement | Patent	2
Accrual for claims	$ 0