Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A non-coherent modulation configuration may be selected for a transmission of a set of data based on a radio frequency spectrum band used for the transmission. After selecting the non-coherent modulation configuration, the set of data may be modulated using a differential phase shift keying modulation technique. After selecting the non-coherent modulation configuration, a set of frequency-domain symbols may be generated from the set of modulated symbols using a discrete Fourier transform. The set of frequency-domain symbols may be mapped to a set of subcarriers, and a time-domain waveform may be generated from the mapped set of frequency-domain symbols, yielding a time-domain waveform. The time-domain waveform may be transmitted over the radio frequency band.