Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described that provide for transmission of idle mode requests using random access techniques, and for identifying a response window for a response to idle mode requests. A user equipment (UE) may transmit an idle mode request using random access channel resources, and the response window may be longer than a response window associated with a random access procedure for initial system access. The response window may be determined based at least in part on a base station that is to provide the response to the idle mode request.