[tomfoolery]

If you're set on the HBU-22, then if it were me, I would a) plan on mounting it outside for the cleanest signal possible to start, b) buy it from a place where I could exchange it for an HBU-44 or -55 (-44 is around 30" shorter than the -55) if it's just too weak or unclean, c) keep the amplifier for now, as you may receive a clean enough signal to amplify through the splitter (if needed), and d) not give up too easily if it's not satisfactory right away. The fact that you get signals that are fairly watchable with a leaf (or clone), inside the house, with wiring, metal, walls, etc. to mess the signal up in addition to the wall of foliage, is encouraging.

Good luck.