Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. In some examples, a sidelink user equipment (UE) may monitor a set of symbols over a wireless channel. The set of symbols may include at least a first subset of symbols and a second subset of symbols. A quantity of symbols included in the first subset of symbols may be based on a carrier frequency of the wireless channel, a symbol length of the wireless channel, a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of the wireless channel or a capability of the sidelink UE. Further, the sidelink UE may receive a sidelink transmission over the second subset of symbols, where a starting position of the second subset of symbols is defined according to the quantity of symbols included in the first subset of symbols