Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. In one aspect, a base station may transmit an indication of a communications mode capability associated with establishing a connection with the base station, and a user equipment (UE) may establish a connection with the base station if the UE has the communications mode capability. In this aspect, the base station may bar UEs that lack the communications mode capability from establishing a connection with the base station such that the base station may avoid configuring or scheduling communications differently for devices with different capabilities. In another aspect, a base station may transmit an indication of whether the base station operates in a full-duplex mode, a half-duplex mode, or both, and a UE may establish a connection with the base station based on whether the base station operates in the full-duplex mode, the half-duplex mode, or both.