Methods, systems, and devices for connection setup in an orbital angular momentum (OAM)-based communication system are described. A first device and a second device may establish an OAM communications connection between the devices. The first device and the second device may exchange a series of messages over a downlink communications link and an uplink communications link according to an OAM mode. Based on OAM related parameters or OAM related information included in the messages, the first device and the second device may achieve a successful directional alignment (co-axial alignment) between the first device and the second device. The first device and the second device may determine one or more orbital angular momentum modes for communication between the first device and the second device based on the establishing the directional alignment.