Methods, systems, and devices related to reducing signaling overhead for coherent uplink transmissions using many antenna ports. In one representative aspect, a method for wireless communication is described. The method includes transmitting, from a mobile device that comprises eight antenna ports, a message to a wireless communication node, the message including at least a first field indicating a first capability of the mobile device for performing a one-layer transmission using two antenna ports corresponding to a first port set selected from two or more port sets, and a second field indicating a second capability of the mobile device for performing a one-layer transmission using four antenna ports corresponding a second port set selected from the two or more port sets.