Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for digital wireless communication, and more specifically, for initializing and using demodulation reference signals. In one exemplary aspect, a method of wireless communication performed by a communication node includes generating a first portion of an initial value of a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) based, at least in part, on combining a time index and at least a portion of an ID index. The method also includes generating a second portion of the initial value of the DMRS based, at least in part, on the ID index, and generating the initial value of the DMRS by combining at least the first and second portions. The method further includes transmitting or receiving the DMRS.