Financial Statements of Parent and Subsidiary Guarantors (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 29, 2012	Jul. 01, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 791	$ 8,909
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, equipment and satellites, net	(36,882)	(36,567)
Cash paid for patents, licenses and other assets	(6,327)	(4,119)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(43,209)	(40,686)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under equity plans	4,635	4,469
Payment of debt issuance costs	(2,215)	0
Purchase of common stock in treasury	(2,020)	(2,165)
Payments on capital lease	(305)
Payments of satellite performance incentives obligation	(255)
Proceeds from line of credit borrowings		15,000
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(160)	17,304
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(113)	96
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(42,691)	(14,377)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	172,583	40,490
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	129,892	26,113
Issuing Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(24,999)	(4,303)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, equipment and satellites, net	(12,721)	(30,440)
Cash paid for patents, licenses and other assets	(6,293)	(4,112)
Long-term intercompany notes and investments	(633)	(955)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(19,647)	(35,507)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under equity plans	4,635	4,469
Payment of debt issuance costs	(2,215)
Purchase of common stock in treasury	(2,020)	(2,165)
Payments on capital lease	(32)
Payments of satellite performance incentives obligation	(255)
Proceeds from line of credit borrowings		15,000
Long-term intercompany financing		11,069
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	113	28,373
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(44,533)	(11,437)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	162,426	24,347
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	117,893	12,910
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	25,674	12,921
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, equipment and satellites, net	(23,944)	(5,897)
Long-term intercompany notes and investments		0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(23,944)	(5,897)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on capital lease	(273)
Long-term intercompany financing		(11,069)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(273)	(11,069)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,457	(4,045)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	439	7,600
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,896	3,555
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	116	291
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, equipment and satellites, net	(217)	(230)
Cash paid for patents, licenses and other assets	(34)	(7)
Long-term intercompany notes and investments		0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(251)	(237)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Long-term intercompany financing	633	955
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	633	955
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(113)	96
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	385	1,105
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	9,718	8,543
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	10,103	9,648
Consolidation and Elimination Adjustments [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Long-term intercompany notes and investments	633	955
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	633	955
Cash flows from financing activities:
Long-term intercompany financing	(633)	(955)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	$ (633)	$ (955)