Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A base station communicates with a UE via transmission reception points (TRPs). A UE receives, from a base station, control signaling identifying a set of demodulation reference signal (DMRS) configurations. The UE receives, from the base station, control signaling activating a first DMRS configuration and a second DMRS configuration. The UE receives an indication for the UE to use a first transmission mode of a set of transmission modes to communicate with multiple TRPs of the base station. The UE selects at least one of the first DMRS configuration or the second DMRS configuration based on the indicated first transmission mode and a pre-defined logical association. The UE then receives DMRS signals from the TRPs of the base station, according to the selected at least one of the first DMRS configuration or the second DMRS configuration.