| 
           Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) (USD $) 
        In Thousands, unless otherwise specified  | 
        12 Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 
           Dec. 31, 2011 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2010 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2009 
         | 
      |
| Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract] | |||
| Reserve for uncertain taxes | $ 1,524 | ||
| Number of days in the event within which certain new products are not shipped by a distributor to a customer | 90 days | ||
| Accrual related to contingent performance payments for XM-3 and XM-4 | 27,925 | ||
| Additional payments required if XM-4 continues to operate above baseline specifications | 10,000 | ||
| Period beyond expected operating performance of design life for XM-4 | 5 years | ||
| Accrual related to contingent performance for FM-5 | 10,709 | ||
| Accrual related to contingent performance for XM-5 | 21,450 | ||
| Operating lease terms | one to fifteen years | ||
| Total rent recognized from lease | $ 34,143 | $ 36,652 | $ 44,374 | 
| 
           FM-5, XM-5, XM-4 and XM-3 [Member] 
         | 
        |||
| Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract] | |||
| Operating performance over design life | 15 years | ||
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Accrual related to contingent performance payments for FM-5. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Accrual related to contingent performance payments for XM-5. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Accrual related to contingent in-orbit performance payments for XM-3 and XM-4. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Additional payments required if XM-4 continues to operate above baseline specifications during the five years beyond the satellite's fifteen-year design life. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Agreement to repurchase of certain products shipped to distributor from date of shipment. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Details 
          
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          operating lease terms. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Period beyond expected operating performance of design life. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Reserve for uncertain taxes. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Satellite expected operating performance over design life. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Rental expense for the reporting period incurred under operating leases, including minimum and any contingent rent expense, net of related sublease income. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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