Aspects described herein include a method comprising predicting, based on one or more transmission characteristics, error values for a sequence of bit positions used for modulating data within a packet. The method further comprises generating a bitmap that maps one or more payload bits and one or more padding bits of the packet to respective bit positions of the sequence. The one or more padding bits are preferentially mapped to respective bit positions having relatively greater error values. The method further comprises modulating the sequence according to the bitmap.