Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate transmitting positioning reference signals (PRS) differently for passive distributed elements. PRSs for passive distributed elements can be transmitted over disparate resources than those utilized for PRSs at a related access point, using different symbol sequences, and/or the like. In this regard, wireless devices can differentiate between PRSs from access points and those from passive distributed elements, which can mitigate confusion for processes involving such RSs, such as position determining. Alternatively, passive distributed elements can refrain from transmitting PRSs, and a corresponding access point can indicate to wireless devices to only determine positioning based on PRSs. Thus, the wireless devices can utilize the PRSs transmitted from the access point (and not other reference signals transmitted from the passive distributed element) to determine a position.