In Star Wars - Episode 4: A New Hope, Darth Vader has a homing beacon hidden aboard the Millennium Falcon. It is thanks to this that the Imperials are able to locate the Rebel base on Yavin 4.
TARKIN
Are they away?
VADER
They have just made the jump into hyperspace.
TARKIN
You're sure the homing beacon is secure aboard their ship? I'm taking an awful risk, Vader. This had better work.
Is it ever explained what happened to this homing beacon?
How long was it aboard the Falcon and tracking Han and/or the Rebels?
No mention of its discovery is made during the rest of the movie, nor is it referenced during The Empire Strikes Back. In fact, the Imperials seem to have few solid leads as to where the Rebels are hiding at the beginning of Empire.
Answer
While the homing beacon is never again addressed within the movies, the comic Star Wars: Droids fills in this gap in issue 8 - Star Wars According to the Droids.
The beacon used was actually a HMOR droid.

After their arrival at the Rebel base on Yavin 4, Artoo and Threepio discover the droid attempting to destroy the base's power generators, and destroy it by crushing it between two blast doors. Shortly afterwards, Artoo joins Luke during the assault on the Death Star.
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