Methods, systems, and devices are described for calibrating a transmit path of a base station. A calibration symbol of a subframe may be generated for transmission on a downlink channel. The calibration symbol of the subframe may be transmitted. The calibration symbol may include a predefined waveform to calibrate the transmit path of the base station. At least part of the subframe including the calibration symbol may be received through a dedicated feedback receive path. The transmit path may be calibrated based at least in part on the received calibration symbol. The calibration symbols may replace one or more data symbols of the subframe. Control symbols may also be transmitted during the subframe. The control symbols may include reference signals and downlink control channels. The control symbols may signal to a mobile device a zero allocation of downlink resources during the subframe.