diff --git a/.pylintrc b/.pylintrc
index 49c5412..7dc3e88 100644
--- a/.pylintrc
+++ b/.pylintrc
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ disable=
     R0915,
     R1705,
     W0511,
-    W0703,
     W1201,
     W1202,
     W5102,
diff --git a/db/api/serializers.py b/db/api/serializers.py
index 88f501e..e6c4c5b 100644
--- a/db/api/serializers.py
+++ b/db/api/serializers.py
@@ -49,14 +49,14 @@ class TransmitterSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
         """Returns mode ID"""
         try:
             return obj.mode.id
-        except Exception:
+        except Exception:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
             return None
 
     def get_mode(self, obj):
         """Returns mode name"""
         try:
             return obj.mode.name
-        except Exception:
+        except Exception:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
             return None
 
     def get_norad_cat_id(self, obj):
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ class TelemetrySerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
         """Returns Transmitter UUID"""
         try:
             return obj.transmitter.uuid
-        except Exception:
+        except Exception:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
             return ''
 
     # TODO: this is a relic of the old data decoding method, needs revisiting
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ class TelemetrySerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
         """Returns Transmitter telemetry schema"""
         try:
             return obj.payload_telemetry.schema
-        except Exception:
+        except Exception:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
             return ''
 
     # TODO: this is a relic of the old data decoding method, needs revisiting
diff --git a/db/base/helpers.py b/db/base/helpers.py
index d605f5e..04b275a 100644
--- a/db/base/helpers.py
+++ b/db/base/helpers.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function, \
     unicode_literals
 
+from django.core.exceptions import ObjectDoesNotExist
 from rest_framework.authtoken.models import Token
 
 UPPER = 'ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWX'
@@ -52,6 +53,6 @@ def get_apikey(user):
     """
     try:
         token = Token.objects.get(user=user)
-    except Exception:
+    except ObjectDoesNotExist:
         token = Token.objects.create(user=user)
     return token
diff --git a/db/base/management/commands/delete_satellite.py b/db/base/management/commands/delete_satellite.py
index ab9c7c2..574afcf 100644
--- a/db/base/management/commands/delete_satellite.py
+++ b/db/base/management/commands/delete_satellite.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function, \
     unicode_literals
 
+from django.core.exceptions import ObjectDoesNotExist
 from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand
 
 from db.base.models import Satellite
@@ -21,5 +22,5 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                 Satellite.objects.get(norad_cat_id=norad_id).delete()
                 self.stdout.write('Deleted satellite {}.'.format(norad_id))
                 continue
-            except Exception:
+            except ObjectDoesNotExist:
                 self.stderr.write('Satellite with Identifier {} does not exist'.format(norad_id))
diff --git a/db/base/models.py b/db/base/models.py
index 3b0f070..b0a106a 100644
--- a/db/base/models.py
+++ b/db/base/models.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ def _gen_observer(sender, instance, created, **kwargs):  # pylint: disable=W0613
     post_save.disconnect(_gen_observer, sender=DemodData)
     try:
         qth = gridsquare(instance.lat, instance.lng)
-    except Exception:
+    except Exception:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
         instance.observer = 'Unknown'
     else:
         instance.observer = '{0}-{1}'.format(instance.station, qth)
diff --git a/db/base/tasks.py b/db/base/tasks.py
index a65eb77..bea64c5 100644
--- a/db/base/tasks.py
+++ b/db/base/tasks.py
@@ -170,5 +170,7 @@ def decode_recent_data():
     for obj in satellites:
         try:
             decode_data(obj.norad_cat_id, period=1)
-        except Exception:
+        except Exception:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
+            #  an object could have failed decoding for a number of reasons,
+            #  keep going
             continue
diff --git a/db/base/utils.py b/db/base/utils.py
index 4b197ae..e3fc9aa 100644
--- a/db/base/utils.py
+++ b/db/base/utils.py
@@ -227,14 +227,14 @@ def decode_data(norad, period=None):
                             obj.is_decoded = True
                             obj.save()
                             break
-                        except Exception:
+                        except Exception:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
                             obj.is_decoded = False
                             obj.save()
                             continue
                     else:  # store in the local db instead of influx
                         try:
                             frame = decoder_class.from_bytes(bindata)
-                        except Exception:
+                        except Exception:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
                             obj.payload_decoded = ''
                             obj.is_decoded = False
                             obj.save()
diff --git a/db/base/views.py b/db/base/views.py
index b6aa457..151f3a7 100644
--- a/db/base/views.py
+++ b/db/base/views.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from django.contrib.auth.decorators import login_required
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
 from django.contrib.sites.shortcuts import get_current_site
 from django.core.cache import cache
+from django.core.exceptions import ObjectDoesNotExist
 from django.db import OperationalError
 from django.http import HttpResponse, HttpResponseNotFound, \
     HttpResponseServerError, JsonResponse
@@ -105,7 +106,7 @@ def satellite(request, norad):
 
     try:
         latest_frame = DemodData.objects.filter(satellite=satellite_obj).order_by('-id')[0]
-    except Exception:
+    except ObjectDoesNotExist:
         latest_frame = ''
 
     return render(
@@ -179,7 +180,7 @@ def transmitter_suggestion(request):
         for user in admins:
             try:
                 user.email_user(subject, message, from_email=settings.DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL)
-            except Exception:
+            except Exception:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
                 LOGGER.error('Could not send email to user', exc_info=True)
 
         messages.success(