Ran some coax loss tests with the line terminated at various sections with the dummy load and unterminated.
Unterminated, the entire segment (about 85 feet), connectors and all, produced a loss of about .7db.
With the dummy load hooked up, losses were high (about 12 db for the entire segment). This is where I reveal my ignorance of dummy loads and loss. When connected to shorter segments, the loss was higher.