I want to set up the router without connecting to my mac

ebisbing Initial setup and best way to configure the router is to have an ethernet connection between the router and computer then router connects to the modem.

Once the router has been configured correctly, you can then disconnect the ethernet cable from the computer and use that computer to connect wirelessly.

You will just have to make sure that the router is configured and connected correctly to the modem.

The proper setup to make things work is to have the modem connected specifically to the WAN/Internet port on the router.