Various aspects provide for communicating a first set of broadcast reference signals (RSs) in a first subframe that includes a synchronization (SYNC) channel and communicating a second set of broadcast RSs in a second subframe that follows the first subframe. The second subframe may immediately follow the first subframe. A portion of the SYNC channel may include information indicating a configuration of broadcast RSs in one or more other subframes. The brhoadcast RSs may be configured for timing-error estimation, frequency-error estimation, and/or channel estimation. Additional and alternative aspects, embodiments, and features are also provided herein.