Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. Generally, the described techniques provide that an access point (AP) or a station (STA) may identify, from a set of channels in a radio frequency spectrum band, a subset of discovery channels. The discovery channels may be designated for discovery signaling for device association. An AP may transmit discovery information for associating with a STA over a discovery channel from the subset of discovery channels. In some examples, the AP may receive a probe request from a STA operating in an active scanning mode, and may transmit the discovery information in a probe response. In some examples, the AP may transmit the discovery information in a periodic signal, such as a beacon, to a STA operating in a passive scanning mode. The AP may receive an association request and associate with the STA.